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BMT Nigel Gee and Associates’ design sets new record for fastest ship-borne helicopter landing
06-Feb-2006
The Sea Fighter vessel, designed by BMT Nigel Gee and Associates Ltd has recently set a new record in the US Navy (USN) for the fastest ship-borne landing of a helicopter with a ship speed of 49.6 knots.
Sea Fighter is an experimental platform for an innovative new class of fast littoral warfare craft. During final sea trials the vessel reached a speed of 54 knots with 500 DWT. In transit mode the vessel achieved a speed of 22 knots against a required speed of 20 knots.
BMT produced the original concept and detailed design drawings for the vessel. Ed Dudson, Ship Design Director who was onboard for many of the performance trials, comments: "Setting this record is yet another successful trial of the vessel, which has exceeded all of its performance requirements set by the Office of Naval Research."
Sea Fighter is currently undergoing final flight deck certification with the USN. Built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Washington State, USA, Sea Fighter is now based in San Diego and will continue to undergo extensive performance trials throughout 2006.
