Page 24: of Marine News Magazine (May 2006)

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Zodiac

Long Range

Interceptor

Zodiac's Long Range Interceptor (LRI) is a rugged rigid-hull inflatable boat (RIB) designed specifically to meet the needs of various military agencies. The 36 ft. LRI has a total weight capacity — including fuel — of 6,300lbs and can hold 30 peo- ple. LRI power options range from 350- 700h.p. The LRI comes with a rear collar modification required by military specifi- cations. The rear collar adaptation is designed to keep water from back wash- ing into the cockpit and engine compart- ments when the vessel enters the water from a stern ramp. Soon, the LRI will be available with Zodiac's Armorflate Sys- tem - the world's first bulletproof system for RIBS and inflatables. The Armorflate design — now "AK-47 Proof" — incor- porates tougher bullet-resistant soft armor ballistic material, high-pressure fabric panels and an ingenious built-in system of ceramic plates, which no longer require manual insertion. The Armorflate system folds and stores in minimal space and can be inflated rapidly.

A.F. Theriault &Son

Mongoose

Canada's A.F. Theriault and Son Ltd. launched the Mongoose, a prototype fast patrol boat, after five years of research and development. The company touts the vessel as a viable, cost-effective, high- tech solution for coastal and inland water- way security. The Mongoose series of

FPB vessels, ranging from 25-120 ft., have a new element added to the formula:

Ceramic Reinforced Plastics (CRP). The process and development protocol remains classified and is closely guarded.

Mongoose MK-1 is a 27-ft. high-speed mono-hull vessel with a specially designed hull, designed to provide maxi- mum control at both high and low speeds.

Initial trials recorded a maximum speed in excess of 60 mph on two-ft. choppy seas.

According to the trial, sharp turns at 45 mph were uncompromising and under full control. Other features of the Mongoose series of FPB's include: Stealth: low to no radar signature with a low heat signature; High level of ballistics protection; Light weight (3200 lbs. dry weight); Efficient: a single 275 Mercury Vera- do from dead stop to plane in 40 ft. Range: Can operated at full speed three hours, at half speed nine hours.

The MK-1 proto-type is loaded with electronic navigation equipment supplied by CMC Electronics Inc. Research direc- tor, Dr. Russell Saunders, said that the hull composite structure includes divinycell core foams by DIAB Group Inc. and rein- forcements by companies such as Johnson

Industries, 3-M and Interplastic Corp.

Other advancements include: a digitized camouflage that at high speeds virtually eliminates the vessel profile.

Mission Marine

Mission 452

The Mission 452 (34 x 13 ft.) Pilot

House and was recently delivered by Mis- sion Marine, Ltd. to the Department of

Planning and Natural Resources located in Frederiksted on the island of St. Croix,

USVI.

Custom made to accommodate the

DPNR's special and varied usage require- ments, it was chosen because of its multi- mission platform, stability, extraordinarily smooth ride, offshore capabilities, and ability to take rough seas. Given the cli- mate of the islands, it has a fully enclosed pilothouse with air conditioning and state- of-the-art electronics to assist the officers.

It joins its sister vessel, also a custom- made Mission Marine aluminum catama- ran, delivered last year in St. Thomas,

USVI. Both vessels are powered by Mer- cury Verado Outboards.

Damen Receives

Contract for 13

Patrol Boats

Following a European tender proce- dure, Damen Shipyards Gorinchem was awarded a contract for the construction and delivery of 13 patrol boats, 10 of which are designated for Korps Lan- delijke Politie Diensten (KLPD- a branch of the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and

Kingdom Relations. The remaining three boats will be deployed by the Koninklijke

Marechaussee (KMar), which comes under the Dutch Ministry of Defense.

Delivery will take place in 2007 and 2008.

The10 vessels for the KLPD will be used for inland surveillance duties. 24 • MarineNews • May, 2006

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