Abstract: A system for rapid, secure transport of cargo by sea includes a monohull fast ship and an arrangement for loading and unloading cargo through an opening in the stern of the ship and along a driving surface of a cargo carrying deck of the ship. The arrangement includes a self-propelled, automatically guided vehicle for carrying cargo to be transported during loading and unloading of the ship and a self-contained security scanning system on the vehicle for maintaining control and surveillance of cargo in transit on the vehicle. The ship includes a reader grid of ship communication system on the cargo carrying deck to which continued control and surveillance of the cargo can be handed off from the vehicle scanning system.

Abstract: A monohull surface ship has a hull having a profile which produces a high pressure area at a bottom portion of the hull in a stern section of the hull and hydrodynamic lifting of the stern section at a speed above a length Froude number of 0.30. The ship includes an apparatus for introducing a drag reducing substance into the boundary layer of water flowing over a submerged portion of the hull in substantially straight flow lines relative to the waterline to reduce skin-friction over a relatively large wetted area of the hull at speeds exceeding a length Froude number of 0.25.

Abstract: A system for rapid, secure transport of cargo by sea includes a monohull fast ship and an arrangement for loading and unloading cargo through an opening in the stern of the ship and along a driving surface of a cargo carrying deck of the ship. The arrangement includes a self-propelled, automatically guided vehicle for carrying cargo to be transported during loading and unloading of the ship and a self-contained security scanning system on the vehicle for maintaining control and surveillance of cargo in transit on the vehicle. The ship includes a reader grid of ship communication system on the cargo carrying deck to which continued control and surveillance of the cargo can be handed off from the vehicle scanning system.

Abstract: The invention is a monohull fast ship. The ship includes a hull producing a high pressure area at a bottom portion of a stern which rises from a point of maximum depth forward of a longitudinal center of the hull to a point of minimum draft at a transom which produces hydrodynamic lifting of the stern at a threshold speed above a length Froude Number of 0.

Abstract: A vessel (10) has a semi-displacement or semi-planing round bilge hull (11) characterized by low length-to-beam ratio (between about 5.0 to 7.0) and utilizing hydrodynamic lift. The bottom (15) of the hull (11) rises toward the stern (17) and flattens out at the transom (30). Four waterjet propulsion units (26, 27, 28, 29) are mounted at the transom (30) with inlets (31) arranged on the hull bottom (15) just forward of the transom (30) in a high pressure area. Water under high pressure is directed to the pumps (32) from the inlets (31). Eight marine gas turbines arranged in pairs (36/37, 38/39, 40/41, 42/43) power the waterjet propulsion units (26, 27, 28, 29) through combined gearboxes (44, 45, 46, 47) and cardan shafts (48, 49, 50, 51).

Abstract: A vessel (10) has a semi-displacement or semi-planing round bilge hull (11) characterized by low length-to-beam ratio (between about 5.0 to 7.5) and utilizing hydrodynamic lift. The bottom (15) of the hull (11) rises toward the stern (17) and flattens out at the transom (30). Four waterjet propulsion units (26, 27, 28, 29) are mounted at the transom (30 ) with inlets (31) arranged on the hull bottom (15) just forward of the transom (30) in a high pressure area. Water under high pressure is directed to the pumps (32) from the inlets (31). Eight marine gas turbines arranged in pairs (36/37, 38/39, 40/41, 42/43) power the waterjet propulsion units (26, 27, 28, 29) through combined gearboxes (44, 45, 46, 47) and cardan shafts (48, 49, 50, 51).

Abstract: A vessel (10) has a semi-displacement or semi-planing round bilge hull (11) characterized by low length-to-beam ratio (between about 5.0 to 7.0) and utilizing hydrodynamic lift. The bottom (15) of the hull (11) rises toward the stern (17) and flattens out at the transom (30). Four waterjet propulsion units (26, 27, 28, 29) are mounted at the transom (30) with inlets (31) arranged on the hull bottom (15) just forward of the transom (30) in a high pressure area. Water under high pressure is directed to the pumps (32) from the inlets (31). Eight marine gas turbines arranged in pairs (36/37, 38/39, 40/41, 42/43) power the waterjet propulsion units (26, 27, 28, 29) through combined gearboxes (44, 45, 46, 47) and cardan shafts (48, 49, 50, 51).