Shock Mitigation Directory

RIB Magazine Article By John Haynes - Operations Director Shock Mitigation

Operators also need to identify what sea conditions could be encountered during open sea transits, then ensure that the type and size of craft they are using are suitable for the purpose. With the correct craft and equipment professional RIB and High Speed Craft operators can maximise crew performance, increase sea time and protect employees from injury. The Shock Mitigation Directory brings together specialist boats and equipment for professional operators of RIBs and High Speed Craft worldwide. It is a unique, online resource for navies, coast guards, search & rescue, law enforcement, oil & gas, wind farms, environmental agencies and commercial boat operators.

The Shock Mitigation Directory is designed to be quick and easy to use. It is a direct link between manufacturers and international decision makers that have limited time and need concise, relevant information. All product entry pages are a consistent layout with references from professional end-users. For each product there is a contact form that sends an email direct to the manufacturer and a link that goes direct to the relevant product web page. Experienced boat operators know that it is the combination of excellent components and equipment that creates an excellent craft. Where a rescue or a critical task has to be completed, the single point of failure could be impact damage or something as simple as a faulty fuel sender or electrical connection. Experienced private RIB owners, who are using their craft for extended passages, sometimes in extreme conditions, also want the best professional equipment.

Besides having many roles in the military and commercial sector RIBs make excellent personnel and load carriers. The inflatable collar makes the RIB extremely versatile by providing high stability, a softer ride and the ability to fender off vessels without damage. Top speeds can exceed 60 knots but professional boats have an expected cruising speed and optimum fuel range with top or ‘burst speed’ as a rarely used option. Most operate in the 30 to 40 knot range. As part of the ‘changing world’ scenario there is now a crossover of roles shared between RIBs, foam collar craft and centre console boats. Until recently a RIB with 5 or 7 air filled tubes was adequate for stopping and searching other craft. If resistance is expected then foam filled tubes backed up with ballistic protection may be required.

Due to their versatility it is often hard to generalise about the role of RIBs. In the Shock Mitigation Directory RIBs are separated into boat lengths with a broad description of their usual activities. RIBs up to 9 metre are often selected for launching from larger craft, patrolling harbours and coastlines, diving support, fisheries inspection, ship boarding plus inshore search and rescue roles. RIBs of 10 metre and above may have a cabin and are often selected for extended patrolling, security, law enforcement, Special Forces operations, ship boarding plus open sea search and rescue roles.

In the Shock Mitigation Directory High Speed Craft refers to planing or semi-planing craft including pilot boats, dive boats, crew boats, windfarm and fast cargo boats. Tasks include boom deployment, environmental sampling, hydrographic survey, fire fighting, search & rescue, law enforcement, homeland security and counter terrorism. A foam collar craft has closed cell foam filled sponsons attached to an aluminium or GRP hull. This is different to a Rigid Inflatable Boat that has air filled sponsons. Combination designs use a mix of air filled and foam filled sections. The main advantage of foam is that it can be cut, perforated or shot but will not deflate.

Professional RIBs and High Speed Craft can be powered by up to 4 petrol outboard engines. Multiple inboard diesel engines can be combined with stern drive, water-jet or surface piercing propellers. Extreme High Speed Craft are constantly evolving as counter-terrorism and enforcement roles change in the military, coast guard and police sector. An Interceptor needs to combine high speed performance, excellent sea keeping characteristics and protection for the crew. Top speeds are rarely disclosed for extreme operations craft which may have stealth characteristics to reduce their radar and heat signature.

The Shock Mitigation Directory includes the latest technology in engines, controls and propulsion. At the Miami Boat Show in 2011 a new outboard motor company launched a 550hp outboard. The largest engine available at that time was 350hp. Is this a game changer? Only time will tell. On first impression to have 2 engines that deliver the same power as a 3 engine setup, with major weight savings and only 2 lower legs dragging in the water, is impressive. However, from operating boats around the world we have learned that durability plus a good international spares and service network are equally important.

The high performance components industry that has emerged around the race boat community of Southern Florida has developed upgrades that are suitable for professional sector boats. Patrolling is often at low speeds, interception is not. To run these multi engine rigs at full power it is essential to have stronger steering systems, more responsive throttles, performance exhaust systems plus drives and propellers that transfer power into thrust and control.

In the past the US marine industry approach to engine size was the same as the Detroit car industry – install maximum horsepower then use the engines at lower revs, with plenty of power in reserve. Modern engines are designed to be used at higher revs so downsizing is part of reducing weight, increasing range, reducing fuel bills and improving environmental footprint. Marine electric motors are starting to make inroads into the lower horsepower range, the main thing holding them back is battery technology.

RIB and High Speed Craft seating needs to provide a good ergonomic position for helmsman, crew and passengers. Seat designs needs to allow space for lifejackets, webbing and sometimes body armour. Having watched the evolution of high performance seating over many years it is interesting to see the diversity of potential solutions. Shock Mitigation has a unique understanding of the various technologies and the latest designs of marine seating have been brought together in the Directory with clear descriptions of their intended uses.

Jockey seats, also known as straddle seats, or padded leaning posts were the traditional seating for commercial RIBs. Due to higher operational speeds many organisations using RIBs and High Speed Craft are now realising that they need suspension seats. The objective of a suspension seat is to isolate the helmsman and crew from the effects of vibration and impact at sea. RIB and High Speed Craft suspension seating may have ‘feet on’ or ‘feet off’ the deck. Seat and suspension designs are constantly evolving to meet the users changing requirements. Helm stations are now available that suspend instruments, controls and seating in one unit.

Although patrol vessels are used all over the world to cover large areas of water it is the ship’s boats that are usually launched to board a suspect craft. Typical illegal cargoes include narcotics, arms and people. The smugglers operate from all sizes of vessels while the boarding teams and commandos that are the naval forces usually travel in RIBs. Anti-piracy is also a major role for many craft. As criminals increasingly use sea transport the specification of law enforcement and security RIBs needs to change. New boat builders wanting to enter this sector will need to offer ballistic protection and sophisticated surveillance electronics. The electronics suite may now be more valuable than the boat.

Next generation electronics include multiple day and night camera systems with laser imaging that is designed for use on fast, open boats that are exposed to the elements and high levels of vibration. Small, tough cameras can be carried by personnel when they leave the boat. These cameras can be linked to improve situational awareness during boarding or search and rescue tasks. Camera images then need to be fed to recording systems to provide evidence in court or for de-briefing. Computers have been part of digital navigation systems for many years but new systems need to focus on ‘plug and play’ integration between electronics provided by different manufacturers.

The specialist craft section of the Shock Mitigation Directory includes air cushion hovercraft, personal watercraft and rescue jet-skis that all have a growing use in the professional sector. The new technology category includes Wing In Ground Effect craft that skim over the surface of the water and the growing development of unmanned craft, including RIBs. In some situations the potential for injury is simply too high that you have to take the man off the boat. The maritime world is starting to realise that an unmanned craft may be the ultimate shock mitigation solution. But there are still many challenges for unmanned craft, including the international regulations for preventing collision at sea that requires vessels to keep a look out at all times.

International maritime policy needs a culture of shared information, plus systems and crew training that encourage interoperability in times of crisis. Many tasks within national waters benefit from shared information between law enforcement, customs, border and rescue agencies. The modern law enforcement boat crew needs access to the same information that their colleagues have in a police car. The military have had tough mil-spec computers for many years and now marine grade PCs and rugged laptops are available for RIBs and open boats.

Looking to the future, navies and coast guards around the world will make financial, environmental and operational decisions to use fewer ships and more boats. RIBs and High Speed Craft will need to become faster, multi-role craft with the same navigation, communication and information systems that are found on a ship’s bridge. These craft will have modular design features that allow then to vary their deck layouts for different mission profiles. To keep the oceans safe, professional boat coxswains and crews will need to develop specialist skills to operate fast response craft effectively in this rapidly changing environment.

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