To reduce overall resistance Air Supported Vessels (ASV) utilize pressurized air, generated by fans / compressors, fed into hull integrated cavities, designed to separate a major part of the underwater hull from direct contact with water. For small and fast ASV’s air support may account for as much as 85% of the operational displacement. For larger, heavier and slower vessels the air support ratio is much less.

Proper “air cushion(s)” are created in hull integrated air cavities underneath the hull.  Concepts with "air lubrication only" are different. Here the idea is to generate a “mix” of air and water to “lubricate” the hull without building up a proper air layer between hull and water. Air lubrication reduces resistance but is far less efficient compared with ASV technology.

In the ASV designs no rubber skirts og bags are needed - a major advantage. The air cavities housing the air cushion(s) are solid integrated parts of the hull, and the cushion periphery is rigid. The patented ASV hulls are designed to reduce motions, minimize air ventilation (in calm waters and in a sea state), and to minimize air ingestion into the propulsion. The invention reduces the wetted surface area substantially. ASV's are safe and predictable and excel with excellent motion damping characteristics. Depending on vessel size, speed, application and operational conditions - all known bows - and propulsion body (patented feature) types / shapes may be used.

The ASV technology covers both monohull and multihull configurations and we encourage the reader to study the rest of the
web site for more details.