Local firm
works on high-tech
ship project

Pacific Marine is helping
develop a high-speed,
hydrogen-powered ship

Star-Bulletin staff

Seed money of $10 million will fund a Hawaii project to develop hydrogen-fuel propulsion systems for ships, engineering that the Navy has said may eventually produce sea craft capable of 100 miles an hour.

Pacific Marine & Supply Co., a high-technology ship design and building company, said today it is teaming up with University of Hawaii scientists and three federal laboratories to work on hydrogen power.

The idea came from Asian Infrastructure Development Group Inc., headed by Philip Cavana. The initial money, partly from the federal government, will be used to develop a high-speed prototype at Pacific Marine, including hydrogen-powered electrical and propulsion systems.

A list of Fortune 500 companies backing the project was to be announced tomorrow, the companies said. The lead partners are Pacific Marine, AID and DCH Technology Corp. Inc. of Valencia, Calif., a specialist in development of hydrogen applications.

Hydrogen is used in the space shuttle and a wide range of industrial and commercial applications. It is also used to power submarines.

Michael Schmicker, president of Pacific Marine, said it is not yet known whether the project will involve building a new vessel or converting one of the advanced-design ships that Pacific Marine already has, such as its high-speed SLICE vessel.

Cavana's company, which has offices in Hawaii, Beijing, London and California, specializes in putting together large infrastructure development teams. Such groups have worked around the world on ports, power projects and other major developments using American technology, Cavana said.

Earlier this year, Cavana's company announced a proposal for an undersea hotel, research center and tourist attraction that it wants to see built in Hawaii.

Pacific Marine, founded in Hawaii in 1944, is a pioneer of ship design. It developed the SWATH twin-hull system used here on the Navatek cruise boat and built the $14.5 million SLICE boat under a grant from the Office of Naval Research.