Page 12: of Marine News Magazine (March 2011)

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The EPS M10 Hovercraft, built at the company’s facili- ties in Titusville, Fla., was launched in late 2010 and was shipped to its final destination in early January 2011.

According to EPS, this is the first vessel of its kind to be built in America and launched in its waters. The EPS M10 is constructed of non-corrosive, fiber-reinforced advanced composites which are environmentally friendly and pro- vide significant reduction in operating, maintenance and through-life costs. The EPS M10 Hovercraft is a fully amphibious, air-cushioned vessel that can operate effec- tively at sea, in shallow waters and over any land surface.

It is powered by two 1,000hp diesel engines which provide lift and operate its propellers, giving speeds in excess of 40 knots. EPS builds these crafts under a license from ABS

Hovercraft Ltd. Existing vessels are in operation with var- ious military and commercial customers.

Environmental features include: • No hot exhaust gas discharge into the water • No propellers, jets, shafts or exhausts in the water; marine flora and fauna remain undisturbed • Virtually no wake produced, thereby eliminating beach and coastal erosion • Extremely low pressure contact with sea or land; a fully loaded vessel creates a downward pressure of less than 20% of a man’s footprint • Polluting anti-fouling paint is not required as the hull remains above the surface.

Photo courtesy EPS Corporation 12 MN March 2011

BOAT OF THE MONTH

EPS Corp. Launches First

EPS M10 Hovercraft

Specifications:

Hull construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Single Skin FRP

Deck and superstructure construction . . . . . . . . . . . . .FRP Sandwich

Length (operational) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 ft

Length (skirt deflated) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64.6 ft

Beam (operational) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 ft

Beam (skirt deflated) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24.5 ft

Cushion height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.3 ft

Off cushion draft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.6 ft

Maximum calm water speed (lightship) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 knots

Maximum calm water speed (fully laden) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 knots

Range (calm water) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Up to 500 nm

Engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2x MAN water cooled D2842 LE211

Propellers . . . . . . . . . . . .2x 4 bladed controllable pitch air propellers

Disposable load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10,000 Kg

Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Minimum of 2

Bow ramp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2+ meter clear opening