HSV 2 Swift Completes Sea Trials

In a world first for a commercial based High Speed Craft (HSC), certified and operated in accordance with the HSC Code by American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), USN HSV 2 Swift has completed very comprehensive heavy weather sea trials in the North Atlantic Ocean. HSV 2 Swift is a 98 metre Incat SeaFrame configured to US Navy specifications and is designed by Revolution Design in Tasmania, Australia, and built by Incat Tasmania, also in Tasmania, Australia. HSV 2 Swift is contracted to the US Navy, through Military Sealift Command by Bollinger Incat USA. During an aggressive operational and experimental tempo, HSV 2 Swift has transited parts of the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, South Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, North Atlantic Ocean, North Sea and Norwegian Sea in a short 9 months. During this operational period HSV 2 SWIFT has performed to an exceptional standard and has impressed the US Navy Commands. The late May 2004 North Atlantic heavy weather trials consisted of multiple numbers of dedicated trials in heavy weather during which the craft was carefully monitored by the US Navy NAVSEA and NSWCCD community to ensure that the structure could satisfactorily endure extreme weather. Bollinger Incat , Incat and Revolution Design executives and engineers visited HSV 2 Swift on her return to Little Creek, Virginia and conducted extensive ships hull and super structure surveys together with US Navy and ABS senior engineers. Some minor super structure damage was found and there was no hull damage. ABS engineers report the results as ‘outstanding’ and have gained high regard for the quality of the design and construction quality behind Incat craft. ABS has been working very closely with Bollinger Incat USA, as the construction of Incat craft within continental United States becomes closer. Gary Davidson, Senior Design Engineer from Revolution Design reported: “The surveys conducted have been done to a very fine detail and with good knowledge of what the craft has been exposed to. We are very proud of the design and structure. The main structure has performed exceptionally well. There is some minor damage in the resiliently mounted non structural superstructure”.