This is an experimental boat built by Lockheed for the US Navy to research stealth technology on the water. And then sold at auction with only one condition: the buyer had to destroy it.
This is not a new development - the "Sea Shadow" was launched back in 1984, but until 1993 its existence was kept in deep secrecy. It's not really a catamaran; the Sea Shadow layout is called SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull).
This arrangement allows the vessel to remain stable with a 6-point roll (waves from 4 to 6 meters high). Subsequently, a similar technology was used on oceanographic vessels, for which the rolling factor plays a significant role in the research process.
At the same time, Sea Shadow was never considered as a boat for performing, say, military missions. On board there are two benches that can accommodate 12 people, a microwave oven and a refrigerator, that's all the equipment. Even body armor has nowhere to fold.
After the end of the trial period, from 1993 to 2006, the boat was not put on public display, but, let's say, was available to the press. Then there was talk of transferring it to the museum, but the Navy insisted that the boat should be disassembled, and pre-sold at an auction (that is, in fact, it was a question of selling for spare parts).
By the way, in the film "Tomorrow Never Dies" with Pierce Brosnan there is a boat, one to one similar to the Sea Shadow.
Main features of Sea Shadow
Crew: 4 people
Year Built: 1983
Manufacturer: Lockheed Corporation
Length: 50 m
Beam width: 21 m
Displacement: 572 t
Draft: 4.6 m
Maximum speed: 26.3 km / h
