News
Combat Boats
Small Combat Craft Hit the Water @ MACC
A 9.5-meter Law-Enforcement Interceptor RHIB built by Annapolis, Md. based Ocean Craft Marine. The vessel is built in a style similar to a series of eight RHIBS the builder recently delivered to the state of Texas for patrolling the Rio Grande.
Photo: Mike KozlowskiThe American Society of Naval Engineers’ (ASNE) Multi-Agency Craft Conference (MACC) 2023 was held June 26-28, in Portsmouth, Va., gathering representative from key government agencies and the maritime industry to discuss topics and technologies relevant to the development, procurement and operation of the U.S. government’s small boats and craft.
The event is designed to serve as an “open forum for the exchange of operational and technical information on small boats and craft between government agencies and the maritime community,” according to ASNE, who has been putting on the conference since 1998.
Topics covered in this year’s sessions included everything from strategies for vessel construction and repair, to advancements in AI and technologies for autonomous and uncrewed vessels, presented by experts in the field. The goal: “effective use of resources, opportunities for collaboration, a more knowledgeable industry-base and best-value small boats and craft for all end-user communities,” ASNE said.
Each year, the conference also includes an exhibition show floor and on-water demonstrations where vendors are given the opportunity to display their latest technologies and product offerings.