SES Museum

Vessels- the S.E.S. Museum

The SES, or Surface Effect Ship, is a rigid side hulled hovercraft. Properly done, an SES vessel can achieve very high speeds while maintaining a very high transport efficiency. An un-stabilized SES Vessel will 'bounce' at it's natural spring mass damper frequency, and also can excite it's various acoustic modes (primarily the first longitudinal mode. Various opinions call these collectively the 'cobblestone effect'), requiring a Ride Control System. Island Engineering personnel, as part of a team headed by Bill McFann, have had extensive experience in this field, and have contributed to the successful launch and sea trials of a large number of SES vessels. Most recent of these is the magnificent KNM 'Skjold', a highly capable Norwegian missile torpedo boat.

Development, production, and integration of computerized Ride Control Systems, optimized air cushion arrangements, sea-keeping assessments, along with integration of seal systems and related lift and boost systems have been performed by Island Engineering personnel for over a decade, with a combined experience base in the field of SES and other vessels including ride control systems, of well over thirty years. The following are some of these vessels.