Arlington, Va.—The Office of Naval Research announces the christening of the Advanced Electric Ship Demonstrator (AESD) on August 24, 2005. The ceremony will take place at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, Acoustic Research Detachment in Bayview, Idaho.
Chief of Naval Research Rear Admiral Jay M. Cohen will deliver the principle address at the christening. The ship’s sponsor is Kathleen Harper, wife of Thurman Harper, vice president of engineering for Rolls-Royce Naval Marine, Inc. In the time-honored Navy tradition, she will break a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship "Sea Jet."
The 133-foot vessel will serve as a model representing a destroyer-size surface ship and will be launched on Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho, where it will be used for test and demonstration of various technologies. An underwater discharge waterjet from Rolls-Royce Naval Marine, Inc., called AWJ-21 ™, will be among the first technologies tested. It allows vessels to operate in shallow water with increased maneuverability and stealth.
Following demonstration of the AWJ-21, the RIMJET propulsor from General Dynamics Electric Boat will be installed in Sea Jet for evaluation. The RIMJET is a novel type of podded propulsion system that relies on a permanent magnet motor to drive the propellor.
Reporters wishing to attend should identify themselves as press at the front gate. Photos and video footage will be available shortly after the event from ONR’s online media gallery at http://www.onr.navy.mil/media/