Air Cushion Vehicles

Umoe Mandal is the world leader within the development, design and manufacturing of Air Cushioned Vehicles (ACVs), in particular Surface Effect Ships (SESs) and Hovercrafts.

ACVs can be exploited in many different ways. For instance SESs tend to stay more operational in worse weather conditions compared to traditional monohulls. They also receive 60% less shock from an underwater explosion compared to traditional monohulls of the same size.

For Hovercrafts, the main advantage is the ability to traverse mud flats and sand banks, and eventually go onto dry land to deliver cargo and troops.

UM is now combining the SES and the Hovercraft principles to achieve game changing performances in the Office of Naval Research T-Craft program.