€1m vessel released in Cork

You would not bat an eyelid if it popped up in a James Bond film.

However, a €1m-plus stealth-like futuristic military vessel created waves when it was launched on the River Lee from Cork’s city quays over the weekend.

Following months of design development and building work at its hi-tech manufacturing facility in East Cork, Cobh-based Safehaven Marine unveiled the prototype of its latest design on Saturday afternoon.

After cementing its reputation as one of the world’s top manufacturers of pilot boats and rescue vessels, the company hopes to use this new design to branch in to military market.

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The 11m-long high-speed military interceptor is built from advanced composite and carbon-fibre materials and features a newly designed wave-piercing hull.

Designed to be self-righting, it’s powered by a pair of 575-horsepower Caterpillar diesel engines, which allow the vessel to hit speeds of up to 40 knots.

One of its most striking features is the remote-controlled and fully retractable rapid-fire machine-gun mounted in a cargo bay near the bow.

Spotted on the river Lee this weekend. James Bond? Batman? See tomorrow's .@irishexaminer pic.twitter.com/AJAzfeRQYt

— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) April 19, 2015

Safehaven Marine managing director Frank Kowolski said they wanted to design a military vessel boat with a very low radar signature.

“It can be fitted with a range of different weapons but we had to find a way to conceal the guns,” he said.

“We’ve designed a retractable mount which allows the gun to be lowered and raised whenever needed.

“The remote-controlled machine gun can be controlled from inside the cabin.”

The prototype is fitted with a replica machine gun which can fire a butane flame, for effect.

The company is embarking on a gruelling period of open water trials before it starts marketing the vessel to navies around the world.

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