"HVS-2 Swift..."

On Saturday night we had a special overnight guest at the berth behind our ship.  The United States Navy's HSV-2 Swift.  This impressive vessel looks like something out of a James Bond movie.  The crew watched with anticipation as the Swift pulled into the berth behind the Africa Mercy.

"The HSV-2 (High Speed Vessel) Swift is a high-speed, wave-piercing catamaran. Built by Incat at their Hobart, Tasmania facility as a car ferry, the Swift is a civilian commercial vessel currently under lease to the US Navy as an interim Mine Warfare Command and Support Ship (MCS) to replace the USS Inchon (MCS-8) which was decommissioned in 2002, and Navy/Marine Corps experimentation vessel. The Swift's primary function is service as a technology test-bed and capabilities demonstrator; its high speed, shallow draft, mission flexibility and modularity, and hull design offer the Navy an opportunity to see, first hand, what effect emergent technologies will have on future ship design and development...
The HSV-2 Swift is 321 feet long, has a beam of 89 feet, and draws 11 feet of water.  The Swift displaces 1,668 tons at full load.  Her normal compliment is 42 though she has berthing available for 107, with the capability to accommodate an additional 87 by converting conventional seating.  The Swift has a top speed of 45 knots, and a cruising speed of 30 knots.  The Swift has a range of 4,500 miles at cruising speed." http://tech.military.com/equipment/view/127898/hsv-2-swift.html