High Capacity Alongside Sea Base Sustainment (HiCASS)

Sea Systems Group, Inc. worked as a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin (LM) on the Phase I HiCASS LVI LO/LO project where MitiGator™  technology is used inside fenders to separate ships at sea in skin to skin transfers.  The MitiGator Hybrid Fendering System was developed under a ONR subcontract.  Sea Systems Group, Inc. is working with a team to develop and implement this technology. 

The design has been developed based on the information contained in Fender and HiCASS Reports, experience of others knowledgeable in the area, input from LM team members and Sea System's experience with The MitiGator™  technology.  The system combines innovative and proven technologies.  MitiGator™  layers are inside a pneumatic fender which provides the technology that will be used in the HiCASS system.

The MitiGator™  technology dissipates 40-60% more energy than other cushioning technologies, including state-of-the-art foams.  It reduces loading as much as 4 - 8 times more than foams.  This system will prevent ship damage, reduce relative ship movements, work with mooring system to keep ships skin to skin, and assist in keeping ships acting as one during maneuvering.

After repeated testing, The MitiGator™  dissipates more impact energy than any other passive fender systems.  The MitiGator Hybrid Fender System provides system in system protection, safe ship separation with lots of reserve capability, improved ship stability, lower reaction forces, less weight than foam filled fenders, reduced storage space requirements, elimination of chain and tire net, easy and quick installation deployment, rub rails provide reduced damage to fender and ship, long service life with replaceable low friction rub rails and easy repair, and accessories that facilitate varying hull angles and sea conditions.