Giant military catamaran docked in St. Petersburg

[unhappycamper]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/12/3229597/giant-military-catamaran-docked.html



Giant military catamaran docked in St. Petersburg
The Associated Press
Posted on Tuesday, 02.12.13

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A 338-foot long catamaran is docked at the Port of St. Petersburg, and it's dwarfing all other ships in the city.

The ship is the Navy's first joint high speed vessel and it made its maiden voyage to St. Petersburg. It's scheduled to leave for operational testing in Virginia on Tuesday. The ship has been docked in the Florida city since Sunday so top military brass from U.S. Central Command in Tampa can visit.

The USNS Spearhead is staffed by 22 civil service mariners. It is capable of transporting 600 tons of military troops, supplies, vehicles and equipment at an average speed of 35 knots or 40 mph, and can cruise and dock in shallow waterways.

The ship was built in Mobile, Ala. It cost about $185 million to build.

[HooptieWagon]

1. It is interesting.

Certainly a modern design. Advantages are it is capable of higher speed, and probably burns far less fuel, than a conventional design. Remains to be seen how it handles in rough seas...I guess thats why its undergoing "operational testing".