High Speed Boat Operations Forum 2023: Where boatbuilding, science and the armed forces meet
Leonie Meyer
· 05.09.2023
The sun shines over the water between Gothenburg harbour and the jetties in the Eriksberg district. A light breeze is blowing. I know I'm about to go on board. In front of me is the Q50 Triple Motor from the Spanish shipyard Quer Barcelona. The boat catches the eye. The hull is surrounded by an eye-catching sliver camouflage pattern of black, white and grey tones. The rounded lines and overall shape are reminiscent of a bathtub in a brilliant white colour. The only difference is that it is powered by three Volvo Penta D6-440 engines. The lettering QUER is emblazoned at the front, with the logos of Ullman Dynamics and Volvo Penta underneath.
Final preparations are being made for the sea trials, the test runs. Two more seats are installed on board on the second day, so that eight participants of the High Speed Boat Operations Forum, also known as HSBO, now have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the boat and its handling characteristics. The HSBO is a meeting of boat builders, equipment suppliers, scientists and military and medical personnel. For two and a half days, the focus is on the exchange of experience and knowledge. The founder is Johan Ullman, a medical graduate from Sweden, who is supported in the organisation by his family. The forum was first organised in 2003 with 15 specialists and rescue workers; now more than 400 people from all over the world are attending.
Special seats designed for travelling with high-speed boats
The jockey seats on board the Q50 are black and have a sporty design. Striking: the suspension and the Ullman lettering. This is where the anti-shock effect comes into play. The seats are designed to reduce the effects of shocks and vibrations - these can be additionally cushioned with the help of leg movements. The seats provide effective shock absorption and help to minimise vibrations that are transmitted to the body.
As Johan Ullman explains, various factors come together when the rescue teams head out to sea: "The weather and sea conditions, the design and the material of the boat." The company's focus is on seating and the science behind it - in particular the prevention of injuries. I'm getting an impression of this today.
Test drives and specialist presentations at the High Speed Boat Operations Forum
But that's not the only thing: in addition to test drives with more than 25 high-speed boats between 4.5 and 14 metres, the programme also includes around 30 specialist lectures. One of these will be given by Jeb Kucik, Head of Anaesthesiology at the U.S. Navy. As he explains, it is striking that 85 per cent of the U.S. Navy is made up of the millennial generation, which places great value on health for the body, but also on health effects. They spread out and specialise in operational areas, such as flying, diving or deployment in the Navy. "Our work also overlaps with that of our country's army and the coastguard," says Kucik. For example, they work together to find out why someone returns from a mission with health problems. They also want to expand their cooperation in Europe. In addition to medical bases in Spain and Italy, the U.S. Navy would like to expand into the vicinity of London in the future. Kucik and his colleagues are also looking into the use of artificial intelligence. "This has already enabled us to deliver blood reserves by drone," says Kucik.
Another expert is Kai-Thorsten Bretschneider, who works for the German Navy's Institute of Maritime Medicine. He emphasises that there is empirical knowledge about the damage to crew health caused by extreme speeds. These include, among others: Slipped discs, vertebral fractures, sprains, strains and also hearing and concentration disorders. Other side effects include mental limitations such as fatigue, exhaustion and unconsciousness. "This leads to a short-term reduction in mental and physical fitness," says Bretschneider, explaining the effects on military operational capability. "A distinction is made between shock and vibration." The former depends on weather and sea conditions, the course, speed, driving behaviour, posture, line of vision and anatomical conditions. "A soldier positioned at the back of the boat, for example, cannot protect his own body from the effects of shock because he cannot perceive the dangers from the front," says the head of the Department of Maritime and Occupational Medicine. One wrong wave can be enough to trigger acute injuries. On the other hand, there are vibrations that can be caused by the shape of the hull, the engine, the speed and the course. However, they can also have long-term health consequences for crew members. According to Kai-Thorsten Bretschneider, there are limit values and recognised measurement methods that are suitable for controlling long-term hazards in working life. If, for example, a soldier is deployed on a RIB for eight hours a day, five days a week, for 40 years, he will suffer damage to his health, according to Bretschneider. Other questions that he and his team would like to investigate include What are the actual stresses on anatomical structures? What are the short, medium and long-term stresses? What options are there for prevention in a military context?
Coming together brings insights
In addition to the presentations and test drives, there is also an exhibition hall. Here, Renée St. Lawrence from Skydex will be presenting materials for cushioning floor coverings. There is also the opportunity to exchange ideas and talk about the work. Ted Berggren, skipper of the UMS motorboat, explains to me that it was completed just in time. The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine had consequences for the delivery of materials. "That's why we still have to embellish some parts," he says. Johan Ullman reports that participants describe the forum as "extremely enlightening". For example, by bringing together doctors, scientists and naval forces, it was recognised that the latter can also suffer brain injuries during their mission - without realising it directly. This was shown in a study with 36 participants, including some from the German Navy.
Finally, the skipper gets on the boat. He gives us a sign that we can come on board. The atmosphere is good and relaxed. In front of me are an employee of Volvo Penta. They want to know how the boat runs with their engines. This is also the job of an employee of the German Navy's Maritime Medical Institute. He goes ahead and asks: "Shall we give ourselves a full blast and go straight to the front?" I don't hesitate and answer with a resounding "Yes". I stow my camera bag safely in the driver's cab. It is located in the centre of the Q50. The deckhouse is also white, the windows all around are darkened. The Spanish flag flies above. As I'm about to go forward, a crew member reminds me of the lifejacket. At the same moment, he hands me one, while the skipper calmly explains the rest of the safety equipment. His voice is accompanied by the gentle hum of the three inboard engines. Safety comes first. This also applies to rescue workers from sea rescue organisations or the navy - after all, they are risking their lives to save others.
Each of the participants looks around the boat with interest. How does the material feel? Which on-board instruments are installed? I take a seat in the foremost seat on the starboard side. Smaller people might well have a problem with the cushioning of their own body. At 1.58 metres, I can't quite reach the floor. To hold on to, we have silver steel bars in the front row, which are attached to the jockey seats. My seat neighbour from the German Navy is also ready. I watch the other boats at the jetty. They are constantly mooring and unmooring. Word gets round that the boat from the Zulu Marine shipyard is supposed to give you the feeling of flying. The bright red dinghy from Yachtwerft Meyer also stands out among the dark-coloured boats.
The test drive starts
Here we go: a crew member hauls in the white lines and pushes us off the jetty. When the skipper puts the boat into gear, the Q50 reacts immediately. The powerful engine noises suggest that we are about to embark on a fast test drive. The skipper skilfully manoeuvres the boat out of the gap. From the manageable jetty in Eriksberg, we set course at 8 knots for Nya Älfsborg, a historic fortress on a small island in the archipelago, which lies on the starboard side of the harbour exit. The sun shines on the deck and the wind cools us down. To starboard of us is the orange-coloured crane of Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstads AB, a former shipyard. What was once a dock is now a marina for the neighbourhood's residents. We leave all that behind us. The water is quite calm, there are only small waves. But the further out we go, the darker the sky becomes. Grey clouds push in front of the sun. I leave my sunglasses on anyway, as we are about to pick up speed. It takes about 20 minutes to cross the harbour boundary, where skippers are allowed to shift the throttle.
The skipper takes one last look at the safety equipment. Then he informs us that he is going to accelerate - and pushes the lever forwards in a controlled manner as far as it will go. As soon as we have left the sheltered area of the harbour behind us, the boat shows us what it can do. Luckily, my hands are on the mounted bar to hold on to. The feeling in the jockey's seat exudes a touch of racing atmosphere. The 15 metre long Q50 accelerates powerfully and creates a wide strip of spray parallel to the boat. The skipper makes hooks, turns sharply and accelerates again to demonstrate the speed and manoeuvrability of the Q50. I shift my body weight to match the speed. My hands on the bar, one foot on the floor and the other on the step leading to the bow. The water foams along the hull. During these manoeuvres, I am reminded why life jackets, sports seats and safety harnesses are essential for this type of operation. The vibrations from the engine permeate the entire hull. As we travel over the waves of another boat at a maximum speed of 54 knots, we jump over them with the Q50. This brings us as close as possible to the real operating conditions. After the jump, the boat starts hard again. The effect of the impact becomes clear here: the boat passes it on to the seat, which in turn passes it on to the body. I feel the impact, but the seat catches my body again. At the same time, I use my legs to absorb the shock. The skipper executes the turns with precision. A few minutes later, he reduces the throttle. Idle.
Adrenalin guaranteed at the High Speed Boat Operations Forum
Another HSBO participant takes the wheel of the Spanish Q50. I also switch to the driver's cab. The throttle is moved all the way forwards again. We get one last demonstration of tight bends. After a test drive of around 15 minutes in the Gothenburg archipelago, we head for the harbour entrance again. The speed is reduced to 8 knots and the skipper takes over the helm. My posture goes straight into relaxation mode as the sun comes out again. We chug past the naval base, the fortress and the orange-coloured crane. The skipper moors parallel to the jetty. The three Volvo Penta engines are switched off. I can still feel the adrenalin.
