This morning I was treated to a ride on Aluminum Chambered Boats (ACB) All Hazard Response Bowloader vessel, or Joint Multi–mission Expeditionary Craft (JMEC). It operates like a helicopter in the water, swiveling in any directions, stopping on a dime.
This job has its perks and one is getting free rides on new vessels being promoted by builders and designers. This morning I was treated to a ride on Aluminum Chambered Boats (ACB) All Hazard Response Bowloader vessel, or Joint Multi–mission Expeditionary Craft (JMEC). The front end is equipped with a opening bow from which to load and unload all kinds of cargo and small vehicles. The vessel is loaded with about a million and a half dollars worth of Northrop Grumman electronics for tactical communications. The prottotype is 41-ft with a nine-ft 11-inch beam and a draft of only 28 inches. It's powered by twin Cummins QSC 8.3-liter, 540 hp turbocharged diesel engines, and Ultra Dynamics 302 waterjets. Helm control is integrated into both forward seats and is operated via joystick. And for some reason they let me drive. The controls were suprisingly sensitive. It operates like a helicopter in the water, swiveling in any directions, stopping on a dime. Not that I could really do any of that at the helm myself. But the professional pilot certainly could. He even "walked" us around a buoy like a honey bee hovering over a flower, making a complete circle around the buoy keeping our nose on it the whole time.