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来源：Offshore Energy 2025-03-23

翻译：国际海事信息网 檀智 张运鸿 

 

        总部位于美国的电动水上滑翔机开发商及制造商REGENT Craft已向美国海岸警卫队（USCG）提交其12座"Viceroy"水上滑翔机的设计基准协议（DBA），推动这类高速全电动水面航行器的海事认证进程。

 

        据说明，DBA明确了"Viceroy"需满足的安全等效性要求，涵盖概念概要、法规符合性分析及风险危害评估三大核心模块，旨在证明该设计具备与传统同级别认证船舶相当的安全水平。

 

        此次提交基于REGENT与USCG长达数月的紧密协作，双方共同完善DBA内容，确保设计方案全面达到甚至超越法定安全标准。预计USCG将在年中完成对该协议的审批。

 

        "正式提交DBA是严格遵循法规与行业标准的成果，体现了我们对合规细节的严谨态度，以及对乘客、船员和船体安全的郑重承诺。" REGENT认证事务副总裁Ted Lester表示。

 

        水上滑翔机属于A型翼地效应船（WIG），其设计始终在距水面一翼展高度的地效区内运行，利用空气动力学效率显著提升航速。

 

        根据国际海事组织（IMO）、国际民航组织（ICAO）及美国国内法规，此类船型被归类为海事船舶。在美国市场由USCG主导认证流程，非美地区则由REGENT携手劳氏船级社（Lloyd’s Register）完成船旗国认证。

 

        随着DBA的提交，REGENT将进入正式设计阶段，推进最终设计方案获批。后续流程包括：USCG对最终设计的核准、建造过程符合性检查，以及与本地运营商合作开展船员培训及属地合规对接。全部流程完成后将颁发适航证书，允许开展商业载客运营。

 

        本月早些时候，REGENT已在罗德岛纳拉甘西特湾启动全尺寸"Viceroy"原型机的海上试航。USCG已批准其航行安全风险评估报告，允许在纳拉甘西特湾及罗德岛海域进行载人测试。

 

        公司近期还在北金斯顿夸塞特商业园破土动工建造生产基地，预计2026年投用，集成滑翔机部件制造、总装及交付前测试功能。

 

        此外，REGENT宣布将在阿联酋布局制造与服务网络。2025年2月，该公司与阿布扎比主权投资基金战略发展基金（SDF，隶属EDGE集团全资子公司）签署初步协议，拟成立合资企业，面向中东、非洲等地区生产电动水上滑翔机，并提供维保检修（MRO）等售后服务。

 

        （本文版权归国际海事信息网所有，图片版权归原作者，转载请注明出处。）

 

REGENT Craft, a US-based developer and manufacturer of all-electric seagliders, has submitted its design basis agreement (DBA) for the 12-passenger Viceroy seaglider to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), advancing its maritime certification process for seagliders—high-speed, all-electric vessels that operate exclusively over the water.

 

As explained, the DBA establishes what the Viceroy seaglider design must do to show an equivalent level of safety to other similarly sized certified vessels and consists of a concept synopsis, regulatory analysis, and risk/hazard analysis.

 

The submission follows months of collaboration between REGENT and the US Coast Guard to mature the contents of the DBA and ensure the Viceroy design meets or exceeds required regulatory safety standards. Approval of the DBA by the USCG is expected mid-year.

 

“The formal submission of the DBA is a result of a rigorous design process according to regulations and industry standards along with our commitment to attention to detail around regulatory compliance and ensuring the safety of seaglider passengers, crew, and vessel,” Ted Lester, VP of Certification at REGENT, commented.

 

Seagliders are Type A Wing-In Ground Effect (WIG) craft, designed to always operate within ground effect, a phenomenon that occurs within one wingspan of the surface of the water and provides significant aerodynamic efficiency.

 

This means seagliders are regulated as maritime vessels, in line with guidelines established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as US laws. In the US, the USCG oversees the certification process for seagliders, and in non-US markets, REGENT is partnering with the classification society Lloyd’s Register to certify vessels for other flag state jurisdictions.

 

With the submission of REGENT’s DBA, the company advances to the formal design stage where final designs can be developed for approval. Following approval of the DBA, the next stage will involve US Coast Guard approval of final designs and inspection of the vessel during construction to ensure it aligns with the approved design, and finally collaboration with local operators on crew training and local requirements. This process results in a certificate of inspection that clears the seaglider for commercial passenger operations.

 

Earlier this month, REGENT began sea trials of its full-scale Viceroy prototype in Narragansett Bay, RI. The USCG has approved REGENT’s Navigational Safety Risk Assessment for the prototype, which allows REGENT to test with humans on board in Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound.

 

REGENT also recently broke ground on a manufacturing facility in the Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown, RI, which will come online in 2026 and house seaglider component manufacturing, vehicle final assembly, and pre-delivery testing for the Viceroy seaglider.

 

What is more, the company also announced plans to establish seaglider manufacturing and services in the UAE. In February 2025, the manufacturer signed an initial agreement with Strategic Development Fund (SDF), an Abu Dhabi-based investment company wholly owned by EDGE Group, to form a joint venture for manufacturing seagliders in the UAE.

 

Once all necessary approvals are received, the joint venture intends to produce electric seagliders and deliver them to the Middle East, Africa, and beyond while also providing aftermarket services, including maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO).

来源：simic