Viability Analysis of Hovercrafts as Passenger and Freight Transporters. An Updated Overview

Abstract

The rpesent paper is going to analyze the opportunity to do another view to the viability of commercial hovercrafts nowadays.

The hovercrafts were removed from general passenger traffic in Europe around fifteeen years ago (Last trip of ACV "Princess MArgaret" took place in the English Channel on Sunday, 1st. October 2000). It is true that there are several examples of small models that are linking different commercial or touristic destinations, that is the case of the two old AP1-88/100 passenger hovercrafts running the Solent and joining in a daily basis South Sea (Portsmouth) with Ryde (Isle of Wight).

The oil prices together with its high maintenance costs were one of the biggest reasons that condemned the hovercrafts in the past, but even existing today the same conditionings, renewabl or new energy alternatives along with new designs being carried out may hopefully reopen the commercial market for them in next years.