Madagascar Shipbuilder Debuts Streamlined Ferry

A small shipbuilding firm based on an island nation off the coast of Madagascar expects to launch its first boat in April, and the firm's Harwinton-based U.S. agent has placed its first order, according to a Republican American report. The ship will be used to demonstrate the boat's capabilities to potential domestic customers, and could ultimately lead to building the boats here as well. According to the report, the idea was to develop a boat capable of consistently high speeds in rough waters. The result is a space-age looking "trimaran" built from special composites and designed to cut through rough waters, delivering a faster, smoother ride than conventionally designed vessels. The boat is designed not to lift in rough waters, theoretically eliminating motion sickness and making it ideal for ferry crossings, which often occur in bad weather. Source: Republican American