Shape-Shifter Proteus: First in New Class of Watercraft

Reports of a strangely shaped mystery boat making its way along the U.S. coast have been making regular appearances in the inboxes of boaters and boating enthusiasts all across B.C. over the past six months. Forwarded emails with appended messages querying whether the boat might be a top-secret military project are common; however, it seems few people know the real story behind the spider-like vessel.

 

Few people know the real story behind the spider-like vessel...Designed by the San Francisco Bay-area yacht designer Jim Antrim and based on Ugo Conti’s original concept, the WAM-V (or, Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel) is the first of a new class of ultra-light flexible catamarans. Proteus, the prototype seen skimming through nearby waters, is the first full-size WAM-V and was assembled in Anacortes, Washington.
The 100-foot, 4,000-pound watercraft has inflatable hulls, a draught of only eight inches forward and 16” aft, and is powered by two 355-horsepower diesel engines. The cabin is fastened under the bridge, and behind it is attached a payload module with accommodations for four and independent propulsion.

The name Proteus was adopted from the Greek god of the sea, a shape-shifter that assumed many forms and was the guardian of all marine life. As such, Proteus is modularly designed to allow payloads to be switched in and out in less than an hour. The payloads could be self-contained craft that can lower to the surface, detach and operate under their own power. Different modules that could be used include guest berths, rescue boats, instrument packages for scientific research, military provisions, and more—proving the WAM-V may be the ultimate in custom-design.

It may also be the most stable ride around. The company that produced the vessel, Marine Advanced Research claims: “Unlike conventional boats that force the water to conform to their hulls, a WAM-V adjusts to the surface of the sea.” The boat’s superstructure is attached to specially designed pontoons by titanium springs that actually move in relation to one another and the waves, absorbing the shock and keeping the structure, payload and crew stable. And because the vessel’s two engine pods are fastened to the hulls with hinges, the engines’ propellers stay in the water at all times.
Proteus’ light weight, stability, limited draught and maneouverability may make it well suited to a variety of applications, including research in environmentally sensitive shallows and lagoons, search and rescue, pleasure cruising and, says the company, cross-ocean voyages. It’s capable of crossing oceans with, says Antrim, “as much, if not more stability than a normal catamaran.”

Still in sea trials, the Proteus team will seek a buyer next year. The cost? As of yet, a price hasn’t been determined, and will depend on the customization required by a customer. The cost to produce the prototype, however, was $5 million, with much of the materials donated to the project by various sponsors (including Cummins Diesel, Hewlett-Packard, Autodesk and Wing Inflatables).

To learn more about WAM-Vs and Proteus, visit www.wam-v.com. —HH