The vessel is able to navigate in very shallow water, which is one reason why its hullform is being considered
for use as a high-speed "beachable" connector for transit from logistics ship to shore, and the SeaCoaster's already shallow draft (just 6ft)
is reduced by half when the blowers are operating and the ship is lifted.
The commercial applications, says Air Ride, the hullfprm enables SeaCoaster ves-
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sels to carry more cargo at faster speeds with less horsepower than other high speed catamarans or monohulls. The SeaCoaster also offers
several other advantages as a naval vessel - among them the fact that it is beachable, has reduced signatures and is less susceptible
to damage from underwater explosions than a conventional craft.
On the ONR vessel, air is blown into the cavities using two of the Caterpillar 3126 |
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diesels. On board electrical power is provided by a pair of Perkins gensets, each of which provides 99k W of electrical power.
The SeaCoaster demonstaror also has a rear cargo deck capable of carrying 90 tonnes of cargo. With a crew of three, there is also
seating for up to twenty passengers. The ONR was due to begin testing the vessel at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama
City, Florida in November. |
