|
|
Artist rendering of MDA-60 vessel equipped with Navatek second-generation (dihedral) Bow Lifting Body |
In 2008, Navatek and SRI International teamed up to develop a 60-foot, Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) Sensor Research Platform to support the demanding requirements for coastal survey in support of maritime security, improvised explosive device (IED) detection, and to provide a stable long range platform for the testing and evaluation of the sensor systems needed to accomplish these homeland security missions.
The MDA vessel is a displacement hull form fitted with a Navatek dihedral bow lifting body to reduce wave making resistance and provide significantly improved pitch motions. These improvements will allow the vessel and her crew to extend their missions and operate reliably and comfortably in higher sea states. Further, the vessel incorporates carefully developed structures and systems to minimize noise, improving sensor system performance and enhancing data collection. Navatek began construction on the MDA boat in Dec. 2008 at Pacific Shipyards International in Hawaii. Launch is scheduled for June 2010.
|
