MVSOT focus: De-escalating threats

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City (NSWCPC) is developing ways to protect naval assets and war-fighting sailors. Maritime Vessel Stopping Occlusion Technologies (MVSOT) is a promising non-lethal tool for the war-fighter to slow down or stop an on-coming target vessel. The MVSOT team is focusing on technologies that limit or remove the ability of a propulsion system to provide thrust to a boat, but in reverse. “These technologies are persistent, but reversible, allowing the war-fighter increased standoff time and distance to de-escalate a potentially threatening situation,” said Dr. Michelle Kincer, NSWCPC materials engineer. The MVSOT program is working with vendors to test commercially available drogue lines for a near-term solution. Drogue lines utilize lengths of rope with sea anchors to restrict forward momentum of a target boat using drag forces. Testing has shown these products to be reliable, although limited to certain types of vessels. The program is developing next generation occlusion materials for a more all-in-one solution. These materials include synthetic hagfish slime and spider silk proteins that advance swelling, adhesive, and strength properties not available in current products. A common method of occlusion is to utilize material to wrap around propeller blades, allowing it to rotate but disrupting the blades from pushing the boat forward, said Kincer. NSWCPC has been collaborating with the University of Michigan, Utah State University, and Chapman University to characterize occlusion properties and produce synthetic hagfish slime intermediate filament proteins, and recreate the natural slime-like behavior. Hagfish secrete a slime substance as a defense mechanism against predators, and it can swell up to 10,000 times its original volume when it comes into contact with sea water. (Source: NSCWPC 11/21/19) https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/Article/2023638/promising-new-tool-protects-ships-sailors/