Regent Craft, a Rhode Island-based developer and manufacturer of all-electric seagliders, has submitted its design basis agreement (DBA) for the 12-passenger Viceroy seaglider to the US Coast Guard. The seagliders are high-speed, all-electric vessels that operate exclusively over the water to connect coastal destinations.
Electric seaglider design basis agreement
The DBA establishes what the Viceroy seaglider design must do to show an equivalent level of safety to other similarly sized certified vessels. It 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 US Coast Guard is expected mid-year.
“Safety is paramount to everything we do at Regent,” said Ted Lester, vice president of certification at Regent. “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 vessels.”
Maritime certification
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 US Coast Guard oversees the certification process for seagliders as 46 C.F.R. Subchapter T maritime small passenger vessels, and in non-US markets, Regent is partnering with classification society Lloyd’s Register to certificate 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 will result in a certificate of inspection that clears the seaglider for commercial passenger operations.
“Regent’s advance through the rigorous maritime certification process in the US gives me confidence that seaglider certification is on track and will ensure top levels of safety,” said Ed Wegel, founder and chairman of UrbanLink Air Mobility, a pioneering advanced air mobility company that has placed an order for Regent seagliders to operate in South Florida and Puerto Rico. “This process also has the added benefit of being highly efficient, enabling us to start seaglider operations on an accelerated timeline.”
In related news, Regent Craft recently announced it would deliver its first 50-100-passenger Monarch seaglider to United Marine Egypt (UME) Shipping before 2030. Click here to read the full story.