Proteus (WAM-V)
Encyclopedia
The MAR Proteus is an experimental watercraft developed by Marine Advanced Research. The MAR Proteus is the first vessel of the Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel-type. The vessel was developed by Ugo Conti. Because of its use of four legs connecting the superstructure to the outriggers, the ship has earned the nickname of "The Spider Ship" or "Spider Boat". The unusual design attracted public attention during early trials, before it even had a registration number.
, in that it uses a twin hull design and no keel
. Unlike most catamarans however, the superstructure
is not rigidly attached to the hulls. The ship uses titanium
shock absorbers to travel with the waves in the ocean, rather than through them. This method should theoretically allow the ship to move faster through the water while burning less fuel, however sea trials are yet to be completed. Hogging and sagging should also be reduced as well.
The Proteus is 100 feet (30.5 m) long, while its beam
is 50 feet (15.2 m) allowing for relatively normal Initial stability
coefficient of 2:1. Its draft
fluctuates more than a traditional ship, but at half load it is 8 inches (203.2 mm) at the bow
and 16 inches (406.4 mm) at the stern
. Because of the ship's limited draft and inflatable hulls it is able to be beached without damage. The ship's bridge, cargo hold
and berth
ing for four are located in the cabin that hangs down from the four legs. The cabin can be lowered into the water 20 feet (6.1 m) below and can run under its own power. It has been designed this way to allow offshore anchoring of the seadrive section of the craft, while allowing the cabin to be moored in a marina
.
The Proteus is constructed of titanium
, aluminum and reinforced fabrics
. The ship's displacement is 12 tons when carrying its maximum cargo of 2 tons. Its outriggers store the 2,000 gallons of fuel that power the two Cummins Marine Diesel
Quantum Series QSB5.9 355 horsepower engines at their sterns.
Adaptive Modular Vessel (designed for military
uses, biological studies, ocean exploration
and sea
rescue
). It is a lightweight
, low cost and modular craft
, which can travel 5000 miles (8,046.7 km) on 2000 gallons (9,092.2 l) of diesel fuel. Proteus will be able to launch
and recover automatic
vehicles as well as engage in remote vehicle operations. Its first appearance in New York
is the 4th leg of a tour that began in San Francisco in January and will end in Washington, D.C.
. Ugo Conti (Italian
engineer
and oceanographer who designed Proteus) and his wife, Isabella Conti, are co-founders of Marine Advanced Research, Inc., a Silicon Valley
-based firm that created the Proteus for $1.5 million. The Proteus has a maximum a speed
of 30 knots (34.5 mph).
Construction
The Proteus is similar in design to a catamaranCatamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
, in that it uses a twin hull design and no keel
Keel
In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event...
. Unlike most catamarans however, the superstructure
Superstructure
A superstructure is an upward extension of an existing structure above a baseline. This term is applied to various kinds of physical structures such as buildings, bridges, or ships...
is not rigidly attached to the hulls. The ship uses titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
shock absorbers to travel with the waves in the ocean, rather than through them. This method should theoretically allow the ship to move faster through the water while burning less fuel, however sea trials are yet to be completed. Hogging and sagging should also be reduced as well.
The Proteus is 100 feet (30.5 m) long, while its beam
Beam (nautical)
The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point. Generally speaking, the wider the beam of a ship , the more initial stability it has, at expense of reserve stability in the event of a capsize, where more energy is required to right the vessel from its inverted position...
is 50 feet (15.2 m) allowing for relatively normal Initial stability
Initial stability
Initial stability is the resistance of a boat to a small amount of lateral tilting from its equilibrium position. It is determined by the difference in the volume of water displaced on each side of the boat as it tilts and is relatively independent of hull shape for small angles of tilt.The wider...
coefficient of 2:1. Its draft
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
fluctuates more than a traditional ship, but at half load it is 8 inches (203.2 mm) at the bow
Bow (ship)
The bow is a nautical term that refers to the forward part of the hull of a ship or boat, the point that is most forward when the vessel is underway. Both of the adjectives fore and forward mean towards the bow...
and 16 inches (406.4 mm) at the stern
Stern
The stern is the rear or aft-most part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the taffrail. The stern lies opposite of the bow, the foremost part of a ship. Originally, the term only referred to the aft port section...
. Because of the ship's limited draft and inflatable hulls it is able to be beached without damage. The ship's bridge, cargo hold
Hold (ship)
thumb|right|120px|View of the hold of a container shipA ship's hold is a space for carrying cargo. Cargo in holds may be either packaged in crates, bales, etc., or unpackaged . Access to holds is by a large hatch at the top...
and berth
Berth (sleeping)
The word berth was originally used to describe beds and sleeping accommodation on boats and ships and has now been extended to refer to similar facilities on trains, aircraft and buses.-Beds in boats or ships:...
ing for four are located in the cabin that hangs down from the four legs. The cabin can be lowered into the water 20 feet (6.1 m) below and can run under its own power. It has been designed this way to allow offshore anchoring of the seadrive section of the craft, while allowing the cabin to be moored in a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
.
The Proteus is constructed of titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
, aluminum and reinforced fabrics
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
. The ship's displacement is 12 tons when carrying its maximum cargo of 2 tons. Its outriggers store the 2,000 gallons of fuel that power the two Cummins Marine Diesel
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...
Quantum Series QSB5.9 355 horsepower engines at their sterns.
Press release
On September 7, 2007, Daniel Basta, director of the National Marine Sanctuaries for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, stated that Proteus is a WaveWave
In physics, a wave is a disturbance that travels through space and time, accompanied by the transfer of energy.Waves travel and the wave motion transfers energy from one point to another, often with no permanent displacement of the particles of the medium—that is, with little or no associated mass...
Adaptive Modular Vessel (designed for military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
uses, biological studies, ocean exploration
Ocean exploration
Ocean exploration is a term of biography describing the exploration of the ocean. It is also the period when people explored the ocean fishies. Notable explorers include: the Greeks, the Egyptians, the Polynesians, the Phoenicians, Phytheas, Herodotus, the Vikings, The Portuguese, and Christopher...
and sea
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
rescue
Rescue
Rescue refers to responsive operations that usually involve the saving of life, or prevention of injury during an incident or dangerous situation....
). It is a lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
, low cost and modular craft
Craft
A craft is a branch of a profession that requires some particular kind of skilled work. In historical sense, particularly as pertinent to the Medieval history and earlier, the term is usually applied towards people occupied in small-scale production of goods.-Development from the past until...
, which can travel 5000 miles (8,046.7 km) on 2000 gallons (9,092.2 l) of diesel fuel. Proteus will be able to launch
Launch
Launch may refer to:In boating:*Launch , a large motor boat*Motor Launch , a small military vessel used by the Royal Navy*Ship naming and launching, when a ship or boat is dispatched from a slipway, prior to fitting out and commissioning...
and recover automatic
Automatic
- Technology :* Automatic transmission, or a car with an automatic transmission* Automatic firearm* Automatic watch* Automatic , a defunct American automobile company- Albums :* Automatic * Automatic...
vehicles as well as engage in remote vehicle operations. Its first appearance in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
is the 4th leg of a tour that began in San Francisco in January and will end in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Ugo Conti (Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and oceanographer who designed Proteus) and his wife, Isabella Conti, are co-founders of Marine Advanced Research, Inc., a Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
-based firm that created the Proteus for $1.5 million. The Proteus has a maximum a speed
Speed
In kinematics, the speed of an object is the magnitude of its velocity ; it is thus a scalar quantity. The average speed of an object in an interval of time is the distance traveled by the object divided by the duration of the interval; the instantaneous speed is the limit of the average speed as...
of 30 knots (34.5 mph).