The Proteus is a new type of craft based on what is known as a Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel (WAV-V) design. Unlike conventional models the hull of a WAM-V conforms to the surface of the water.
The Proteus prototype is a 100-foot long catamaran with a water displacement of 12 tons (24,000 pound) at full load. It is equipped with two 355 hp Cummins diesel engines and has a range of over 8000 kilometres (5000 miles) and a top speed of 112 km/h (70 mph). The Proteus is built from several light and strong materials including Titanium, Aluminium and reinforced favrics. The Proteus prototype can carry two tons of cargo and be operated by a crew of two. A cabin, which can be made to accomadate six can be lowered into the water "like a helicopter landing".
The vessel made its premiere on San Francisco bay,it looks like a giant spider and travels over waves extremely fast. The vessel's inventor and engineer Ugo Conti has created a "new class of watercraft". The boat's potential uses include recreational (cruise ship,exploration, water sport etc)., to research(monitor marine resources) and special operations, search and rescue and a base for unmanned crafts.
The legs ride on titanium springs, like shock absorbers that allow the WAM-V to adjust to the surface of the water. Conti says " it can go many thousands of miles to deliver something , help scientists, and enter faraway shallow lagoons.
Conti will not say how much the prototype has cost. His wife Isabella declared "we are still adding that up". Public opinion , "it's different","it wiggles like a porpoise or whale","it's not fighting the waves," "it looks like something out of James Bond."
For more information on the WAM- V technology catamaran, see here on Marine Advanced Research website.http://www.wam-v.com/
Conti says "I liked flexible boats. It is very much experimental. You have to be crazy and old to do this, you have nothing to lose."
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