Page 31: of Marine News Magazine (November 2024)

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Feature

Military Craft ureka Naval Craft is introducing its suite of high- The advantages of such a craft for the offshore energy in- speed AIRCAT (air cushion catamarans) surface dustries are the same advantages the military wants: higher effect ships (SES), already in use with the offshore speed to weight ratio; lower fuel consumption; lower emis-

E energy industry, to the defense market. sions; and probably the most important, improved com-

According to Bo Jardine, CEO of Eureka Naval Craft, fort. Comfort for people means better accuracy with weap- a newly formed U.S.-based naval defense company, the on systems, less wear and tear on sensors, weapons and versatile suite of AIRCAT naval vessels can serve as a pa- other sensitive payloads, and longer endurance for crews.

trol craft, rescue craft, medical evacuation vessels, heavily AIRCAT Bengal is well-deck capable and can be carried armed small combatants and landing craft. inside amphibious ships. They are also equipped with a full

The AIRCAT SES has both an air cushion, like a hover- galley and can make their own water for extended sorties.

craft, and twin hulls like a catamaran. “Our AIRCAT Bengal combatant craft can cruise 38

Eureka’s AIRCAT Bengal variant is a military version knots for 1,000 nautical miles with a top speed of 47 to 50 of the proven commercial AIRCAT 35 Combi, with the knots, depending upon what we carry onboard, with seven same hull as the AIRCAT 35 Crewliner as designed by to 21 days endurance,” Jardine said. “They are manned their partner ESNA Naval Architects. These commercial with a crew of between ? ve and seven, mission depending” vessels are in use supporting the offshore energy business, and “can carry 22 personnel in comfort; and when I say in including oil and gas as well as wind operations. comfort, they are probably better accommodations than “Working in the offshore business, I learned about the our Sailors and Marines are used to—practically everyone importance of a fast and stable platform to get our crews has their own bathroom. We can carry two 20-foot con- and equipment out to the rigs quickly, safely and comfort- tainers on the back deck, and they can be used for cargo, ably,” Jardine said. “We’ve taken the commercial AIRCAT or payloads such as missiles, mines, torpedoes, drones or design, turned it gray and brought it into defense.” mine countermeasure (MCM) systems.”

The AIRCAT vessels feature deck space for containers, mission modules or cargo. www.marinelink.com MN 31|