ABS Hovercraft
Encyclopedia
ABS Hovercraft is a British hovercraft
designer and producer, founded in the early 90's.
In 1993 ABS created the world’s fastest recreational Hovercraft fully made from advanced composite materials.
In 1994 ABS launched the largest Hovercraft entirely made from advanced composite materials, called the ABS M10, which was built by Vosper Thornycroft in Southampton. The M10 crossed the English Channel and was the first hovercraft to circumnavigate the Baltic Sea
during winter trials in 1994.
In 1995 their ABS M10 was sold to a commercial operator, Eurosense, in Belgium as a replacement for an SR-N6 for use as a hydrographical survey vessel along the coastline off Zeebrugge. Other ABS M10 hovercraft were sold as logistic supply vessels to the Sri-Lanka Navy and to the Swedish Amphibious Corps
, produced under license by Kockums AB of Sweden.
In 1998 Tony Blair
announced on TV the Millennium Product award of the UK Design Council
for the ABS M10 Hovercraft.
Their technology is licensed to a number of international shipyards.
Currently the ABS Hovercraft now known as the ABS M-10 is being built under license by ABS under the name "EPS M-10" by EPS Corporation of Tinton Falls, NJ.
The EPS M-10 has the following specifications
Length: 20.6 m
Beam: 8.8 m
Cushion height: 1.0 m
Max Payload: 10 metric tons (22,000 Lbs)
Max Speed: 50 knots
Max Speed (fully laden): 40kts
Range: up to 500 Nm
Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
designer and producer, founded in the early 90's.
History
ABS Hovercraft researched the introduction of new materials to innovate Hovercraft technology.In 1993 ABS created the world’s fastest recreational Hovercraft fully made from advanced composite materials.
In 1994 ABS launched the largest Hovercraft entirely made from advanced composite materials, called the ABS M10, which was built by Vosper Thornycroft in Southampton. The M10 crossed the English Channel and was the first hovercraft to circumnavigate the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
during winter trials in 1994.
In 1995 their ABS M10 was sold to a commercial operator, Eurosense, in Belgium as a replacement for an SR-N6 for use as a hydrographical survey vessel along the coastline off Zeebrugge. Other ABS M10 hovercraft were sold as logistic supply vessels to the Sri-Lanka Navy and to the Swedish Amphibious Corps
Swedish Amphibious Corps
Amfibiekåren is the coastal defence arm of the Swedish Navy. Until 2000 it was known as Kustartilleriet , but the name was changed to reflect its different role in a post-Cold War world, where its amphibious special operations arm, "Kustjägarna", has grown in significance while its coastal...
, produced under license by Kockums AB of Sweden.
In 1998 Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
announced on TV the Millennium Product award of the UK Design Council
Design Council
The Design Council is a United Kingdom non-departmental public body incorporated by Royal Charter and registered as a charity.Registered charity number 272099.- In the beginning :The Design Council started in 1944 as the Council of Industrial Design...
for the ABS M10 Hovercraft.
Models
So far ABS has concentrated on larger Hovercraft that can carry up to 100 passengers as ferry or more than 10 tons of disposable payload for military, paramilitary or commercial applications. Their vessels can be used as commercial ferry or for cargo operations, as a work boat or for logistic supply in arduous environments.Their technology is licensed to a number of international shipyards.
Currently the ABS Hovercraft now known as the ABS M-10 is being built under license by ABS under the name "EPS M-10" by EPS Corporation of Tinton Falls, NJ.
The EPS M-10 has the following specifications
Length: 20.6 m
Beam: 8.8 m
Cushion height: 1.0 m
Max Payload: 10 metric tons (22,000 Lbs)
Max Speed: 50 knots
Max Speed (fully laden): 40kts
Range: up to 500 Nm
External links
- ABS Hovercraft official website
- ABS Hovercraft video: model donar video on You Tube
- ABS Hovercraft video: model m10 video on You Tube
- EPS M-10 video on website