Surface Effect Ship
A Surface Effect Ship (SES) or Sidewall Hovercraft is a watercraft that has both an air cushion, like a hovercraft, and twin hulls, like a catamaran. When the air cushion is in use, a small portion of the twin hulls remain in the water. When the air cushion is turned off ("off-cushion" or "hull borne"), the full weight of the vessel is supported by the buoyancy of the twin hulls.
The SES has two advantages over a hovercraft for open sea operation: it is more resistant to slipping sideways when acted on by air or sea and, and it can use water jets for propulsion since the inlet nozzles are always covered by water.
Read more about Surface Effect Ship: United States Navy, Hovermarine SES Ferries, Operational Use
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