Page 15: of Marine News Magazine (July 2021)

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Q&A new product line for us in the Hybrid and Electric vessel

Why was the HTX42 waterjet introduced, and space (EHX). Fostering innovation in an established com- what are its key advantages? Which vessel pany is really hard, so we took the bold decision to separate types is it best suited for?

BR: The HTX42 is the fourth in our new range of jets, some of our most talented engineers from their day jobs and give them a budget to innovate. We gave guidance as to the ultimately destined to replace the 18 models we have to- day. Each model is being developed to be more ef? cient, areas we thought needed our attention, but we did not get in the way of their work. We simply told them to make sure more reliable and easier to install/maintain than its prede- cessor. These jets are gaining traction in the governmental, they focus on things that quickly can become products (not military and patrol market where large, volume contracts just blue-sky research) and get to demonstration as quickly have been won with each new model already. In addition, as possible. The result was phenomenal. Within two years we they are proving popular in commercial applications where have developed and launched a fully integrated, automatic hybrid-electric drive for commercial and military vessels, their combination of class-leading hydrodynamic perfor- built a 15-meter demonstration vessel to prove it works, de- mance and robustness are critical buying criteria.

veloped a new business partnership and future product with

Sea Machines Robotics, and been granted a patent that could

What portion of HamiltonJet’s commercial/ be signi? cant in the offshore wind segment. I think this has government business is in the U.S.? How do put is in a leadership position in the key areas of vessel au- you see business in this market today, and tonomy, digitization and electri? cation of marine systems.

where do you see greatest opportunities?

BR: The U.S. and Canada represent about 26% of our total business, with Asia Paci? c being 45% and EMEA be- ing 29%. The U.S. market for us used to be bigger when oil and gas was booming in the Gulf of Mexico, howev- er it still remains our single largest country of sale and a hugely important market to us. The largest opportunities lie in the renewal and expansion of the ferry ? eets on the east and west coasts, the current increasing momentum in offshore wind power, and of course a growing number of military and governmental projects.

We aren’t at liberty to say much about our involvement in military projects, but a great example of our products would be the U.S. Navy MKIV Patrol Boat. This vessel has two of our HM651 waterjets in it, with 12 active in the

U.S. ? eet, plus several gifted overseas by the U.S. Foreign

Military Sales (FMS) program. We work with militaries and coast guards around the world, with projects Europe, the Americas, Middle East and in Asia (where we have hundreds of vessels in service with the Japanese, South Ko- rean and Taiwanese Coast Guards, as an example).

Of all the projects you’ve been involved in over the course of your career, which is your favorite and why?

BR: I think my favorite has been the creation of our Future

Products team, and in particular the development of a whole www.marinelink.com MN 15|