Application of heavy lift ship technology as a seabasing enabler

Seabasing is a technique of decreasing shore-based military presence. Given are the design, implementation, and results of an experimental investigation of a potential seabasing enabler. Successful, sustainable seabasing presents significant ocean engineering challenges and requires enabling technologies. By the innovative application of Heavy Lift Ship (HLS) technology, it is experimentally demonstrated that a HLS has the potential to be an intermediary between Roll on Roll off (Ro/Ro) ships and landing craft, thereby serving to transfer wheeled and tracked vehicles. In high sea state, this transfer is made possible only if the HLS creates a virtual beach and a lee sufficient to allow operation of the landing craft while maintaining suitable connectivity to the Ro/Ro ship. Experimental results indicated unlimited operations in sea state 3, probable operations in sea state 4, and with further refinement operation in sea state 5 is possible.