VT Halmatic Launches New Patrol Craft Designs

VT Halmatic launched a series of new fast patrol craft designs. The designs range from 16m to 29m and are designed to be versatile, multi-role platforms optimized for homeland security duties such as patrol, anti-terrorist, search and rescue, surveillance, Coastguard and Economic Exclusion Zone operations. The 29m craft is based on a high speed planing hull form and is a successor to the Hawk Class 30m composite fast patrol boat sold to Jordan in the 1990s. It can be propelled by conventional shafts or water jets with speeds in excess of 40 knots depending on final specification. The hull is manufactured from fiber reinforced plastic (composite) and is flexible enough to accommodate various outfit configurations and the boat can be fitted with a range of fire control and armament suites. An integrated management and communications system can also be included. The forward deck can accommodate a cannon up to 30mm and the aft deck can include an inflatable boarding boat and additional armament. Below decks, there is accommodation for some 14 personnel including officers’ cabins, crew mess, galley, stores and other facilities. Also included in this new family of patrol boat designs are vessels of 16m and 20m. These smaller craft are based on hull forms from Camarc which are again high speed planing designs. The smaller of the designs is already a proven hull form used as the basis for pilot boats in service in UK waters.