Ground Effect Vehicle - Classification

Classification

One difficulty which has delayed GEV development is the classification and legislation to be applied. the International Maritime Organization has studied the application of rules based on the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (HSC code) which was developed for fast ships such as hydrofoils, hovercraft, catamarans and the like. The Russian Rules for classification and construction of small type A ekranoplans is a document upon which most GEV design is based. However in 2005, the IMO classified the WISE or GEV crafts under the category of ships.

The International Maritime Organization recognizes three classes of ground effect craft:

1. Type A: a craft which is certified for operation only in ground effect;
2. Type B: a craft which is certified to temporarily increase its altitude to a limited height outside the influence of ground effect but not exceeding 150 m above the surface; and
3. Type C: a craft which is certified for operation outside of ground effect and exceeding 150 m above the surface.

These classes currently only apply to craft carrying 12 passengers or more.