Although resembling an airplane, the new vessel from Sea Cheetah is classified as a watercraft because it flies just a few meters above the water’s surface.
American company Sea Cheetah has partnered with French company H3 Dynamics to develop the world’s first hydro-electric wing-in-ground-effect (WIGE) vessel, as reported by Interesting Engineering on October 3.
Sea Cheetah’s low-flying vessel. (Image: Sea Cheetah).
WIGE vessels operate by flying close to the water, utilizing the ground effect to generate greater lift. They maintain an airborne state without continuous contact with the water surface, thanks to aerodynamic lift from their wings, body, or specially designed components. They also consume less fuel and reduce operational costs compared to traditional maritime or aviation vehicles.
Despite flying over the water, the low altitude allows WIGE vessels to operate in the same space as boats. Therefore, they must adhere to collision avoidance rules similar to those for watercraft.
Sea Cheetah’s WIGE vessel flies just 3 meters above the water at speeds of 250 km/h. The operational range of the vessel has not been disclosed but could extend to hundreds of kilometers. With the ability to carry heavy loads and a longer range than traditional maritime vehicles, this new craft is ideal for various applications such as coastal passenger transport, delivery services, and rescue operations.
H3 Dynamics will manufacture the hydro-electric propulsion system for Sea Cheetah’s WIGE vessel. This system enables it to glide over the ocean with zero emissions, without the need for continuous recharging.
“Our hybrid propulsion system allows Sea Cheetah’s WIGE vessel to achieve a range and payload capacity that was previously unfeasible with batteries, providing more applications in various parts of the world,” said Taras Wankewycz, CEO of H3 Dynamics.
According to Serge Markoff, founder and CEO of Sea Cheetah, the lighter flight propulsion system will enable the vessel to perform last-mile delivery tasks without emissions to remote areas more effectively. “By combining the advanced technologies of both companies into one vehicle, the Sea Cheetah vessel can now carry three times the payload of competing aircraft and boats, is ten times faster than traditional vessels, and is ten times more fuel-efficient than aircraft,” Markoff stated.
