PRODUCT >> 3000 TD

This craft is the smallest of the twin industrial diesel-engined craft. Seating 36-48 passengers or carrying a 3-4 tonnes payload, this is the size of craft chosen by the Shell oil company of Nigeria. Shell completed probably the most extensive worldwide evaluation of hovercraft ever undertaken. After some two years of this practical and theoretical evaluation, they placed an order for three craft on Griffon Hovercraft Ltd. The particular specification for their craft included 30 airline-type seats, a separate cargo/freight hold, a toilet and double air conditioning.

The reasons for Shell purchasing hovercraft were:-

(a) The hovercraft's ability to operate in the Niger delta during all seasons and tides - in the dry season these craft operate over mud, in the wet they operate over logs, debris and flooded areas and

(b) The lack of wash/wake at high speed.

Secondary roles for these Shell craft include quick deployment for oil spill response, rig blow-out and medical evacuation. These hovercraft were built to Lloyds Classification.