Surface effect planing pontoon seaplane (SEPPS)

Abstract

A zero draft cargo vessel with high speed open sea operational capabilities, a catamaran type design with hovercraft systems capable of lifting the craft slightly out of the water and air lubricating the planing pontoon bottoms for greatly reduced water drag at all speeds. A surface effect ship (SES, twin hard sidewalls), design with flat bottom planning pontoons, (SEPPS). The soft Hovercraft air pad being contained and stabilized by the twin high speed surface planing pontoon reactions. A high speed cargo vessel capable of operating at two to three times the speeds of conventional cargo vessels having the same horse power to weight ratios. A high speed cargo vessel design of greatly increased fuel efficiency per ton mile due to its greatly reduced water drag. A fast cargo vessel traveling at near three times the speed with the same hourly fuel consumption of large conventional cargo ships. This equates to getting there in 1/3 the time and 1/3 the fuel. A zero draft cargo surface effect ship capable of very shallow water operations for cargo load and off load on beaches and shore ramps. The design is adaptable to a multitude of fast military transport ships and fast commercial cargo, container, or refrigerated ships. The SEPPS designs may be applied to any size craft from 25 ft. to over 500 ft. hull length. The SEPPS designs are so much more efficient and safer to operate at high speeds than any other type vessel in operation on the seas today. The design is considered a major break through in marine design. The SEPPS zero draft vessels can open new shallow water shipping lanes, ports and rivers, to commerce in areas not accessible to normal draft cargo ships.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.