American Shipbuilders Actively Perform Shipbuilding Composite Materials

Maine shipbuilders use composite materials to build high-speed patrol boats, which can reduce the vibration caused by wave pats when the patrol boat is sailing at high speed, thereby reducing the damage to the US Navy SEALs. This program received strong support from the federal government.

The Naval Research Agency awarded a $600,000 software upgrade contract to Maine Shipbuilding Composites, Inc., which is used to predict the wave slamming force of a special combat patrol boat. The current Mark V aluminum patrol boat can reach 60 mph (about 96 km/h) at full speed, and the resulting vibrations can easily cause the SEAL commando to collide, scratch and sprain ankles.

A composite patrol boat constructed by the Maine contractor can effectively reduce the wave slap force. The software upgrade will help ship designers better predict the vibration characteristics of a large number of ships.