CNIM - Landing Craft and Multipurpose Patrol Craft*

French-based company CNIM is involved in a wide range of activities within the defence industry. For the naval sector, CNIM has designed a new concept of landing craft for LCU, LCT and LST.

L-CAT landing catamaran

The L-CAT landing catamaran is an innovative amphibious fast shore-connecting concept developed by CNIM in reply to 'over the horizon' logistic and force projecting requirements of modern LPD / LHD vessels.

The L-CAT consists of a full length mobile platform operated by hydraulic jacks, which is suspended between the two hulls. During landing operations the platform lowers into the sea thereby lifting the vessel out of the water reducing its draft to approximately 0.8m allowing the vessel to navigate in shallow water and come to shore and beach. During high-speed navigation the platform is lifted in its highest position, improving the vessels sea-going capacities and allowing it to be deployed up to 200 miles from shore.

The L-CAT is designed to fit within the minimised space provided by dock ships, and provides full Ro-Ro capacities and open sea door-to-door logistics.

The French Ministry of Defence acquired four vessels and the first of series is scheduled to be delivered in 2011. The L-CAT can operate on any sea with or without a harbour. Her versatility makes her suitable for all kinds of disaster relief operations.

MPC multipurpose patrol craft

The MPC is a vessel dedicated to multi-role coast guard duties. It combines a number of innovative features allowing it to deploy fast intervention RHIBs (rigid hull inflatable boat), vehicles or trucks, oil recovery installations, ROVs and numerous other equipment on a large mobile platform installed between the two hulls. It has an effective payload capacity of 60t. 

The movable platform can be lowered into the water, thereby reducing the vessels draft, allowing it to navigate in shallow waters and approach the shore and beach. Its foldable bow ramp gives it the capability to load vehicles to and from beaches and quays, giving the vessel an effective Ro-Ro functionality. 

The capacity to deploy RHIBs in severe weather conditions is of major importance. Instead of performing RHIB operations from the side or over the transom, the MPC lowers and inclines its platform to create a sheltered sea area in between two hulls, as well as a protected and artificial landing area onto the inclined platform. Doing so, the operators can work under safe conditions, while the RHIBs navigate away from the vessels stern wake turmoil during launching and recovery manoeuvring. The ship provides accommodation for a complement of 12 crew and 16 special trained personnel, which allows for missions in excess of ten days and 1500 nautical miles. 

These combined features allow the MPC to be used for coastal patrol services, logistic support, humanitarian rescue, military operations, oil spill cleaning and combined asymmetric threat assessment.

MPC2 multi-role offshore patrol vessel

By using a unique patented lifting platform, the MPC2 combines shallow water landing and shore-connecting operations with the deployment of high-speed interceptors, helicopters, UAVs or observation ROVs. 

The movable platform can be lowered into the water, thereby reducing the vessels draft, allowing it to navigate in shallow waters and approach the shore and beach. RHIB launching and recovering operations are performed by lowering and inclining the ships platform to create a sheltered sea area in between two hulls, as well as a protected artificial landing area onto the inclined platform. Doing so, the operators can work under safe conditions, while the RHIBs and interceptors can navigate away from the vessels stern wake turmoil. 

The ship provides an effective platform payload of 200t and accommodation for a complement of 25 crew and 50 special trained personnel, which allows for missions in excess of 3000 nautical miles.

With economic speed ranges the MPC has a cost-effective interest within a number of multi-role deployment scenarios: 

• Law enforcement and illegal traffic control
• Deployment of high-speed interceptor and RHIB’s
• Military force projections and high-speed shore connections
• Logistic support for both military and humanitarian operations
• Helicopter and UAV operations

*Notícia publicada a naval-technology.com