Clients in the News: M Ship Co. Wins Connect 2007 Most Innovative Product Award

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA -- M Ship Co.’s revolutionary M80 Stiletto was named as the Most Innovative New Product for 2006 in the General Technology category at CONNECT’s annual MIP Awards luncheon today.

“This is a great honor for our company, and I dedicate this award to all the people who contributed to making the Stiletto a success,” said Bill Burns, executive director of M Ship Co. “I also want to acknowledge the forward thinking of the Office of Force Transformation, which had the vision to recognize the potential of this breakthrough technology.”

The M80 Stiletto is a revolutionary vessel designed and built for the Pentagon’s Office of Force Transformation, which believes the vessel could transform the way U.S. forces conduct coastal and riverine operations. The patented M Hull® configuration represents a breakthrough because its M-shaped hull captures the bow wave and redirects this energy under the vessel, creating a cushion of air. With a top speed of 50 knots and a draft of only 2.5 feet, the 88-foot Stiletto provides a smooth ride from inland waterways to the high seas.

The Stiletto is an example of the next generation of military vessels that combines new materials (carbon fiber), with a networked architecture and a unique hull form. The vessel was launched in January and has participated in joint military training exercises off the California coast. Early next year, the futuristic-looking vessel will charge up Chesapeake Bay to Washington. A 40-foot military craft is also in the works.