THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF THE SURFACE EFFECT SHIP IN THE UNITED KINGDOM A PERSONAL ACCOUNT

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn complete contrast to the development of the Surface Effect Ship (SES) in the USA which has been mainly developed out of Department of Defense (DOD) funded research the SES in the United Kingdom (UK) has established itself in the commercial market in spite of little financial support from government sources and after a number of pioneering setbacks.The author has been involved in this area of marine transport since 1959 and was co‐designer for the first sidewall hovercraft/SES to be built at William Denny & Bros., on the Clyde River in Scotland. He describes the basic logic that supported his determination to push through a firm contender to the then more popular amphibious hovercraft concept. He questions whether the Research & Development funds were allocated appropriately. The initial official lack of support, however, spurred a group of enthusiasts to found the original Hovermarine company and the beginning of the successful HM2 series of craft. The latest hull to be launched in this series is No. 76. Applying up‐to‐date skills from the marine industry and specific improvements developed in‐house within Vosper Hovermarine Ltd., as the company is now called, the HM2 is a cost‐effective, reliable and long‐life vehicle in operation in many parts of the world. The emergence of the HM5 series of craft has allowed a considerable broadening of the market potential. Within a couple of years of its launch it will confidently be applied to a number of offshore applications. The future of the SES in the UK is encouraging only as a function of the commercial success of the basic concept and the development of reliable cost‐effective series of craft applied appropriately at the right size and speed, appropriate to its role and sea capacity. Naval and quasi‐military applications will be the target of a substantial export market.