30 September 2010
CNIM: the Landing catamaran (L-CAT) successfully completes its 150th "beaching"
in front of a delegation of members of the NATO Parliament
On September 30th, 2010, the CNIM Landing catamaran (L-CAT) conducted its 150th "beaching" since the beginning of its testing in the Mediterranean Sea.
Let us remind that the L-CAT is a CNIM innovation allowing to associate the qualities of a catamaran sailing with the "beaching" function of a landing ship.
Eight units from this particular concept named EDA-R (Rapid Amphibious Landing Vessels) were ordered by the French General Delegation for Armament to embark on Projection and Command Ships of Mistral 1 type.
This 150th ceremony took place in front of a delegation of members of the NATO Parliament invited to discover the L-CAT. This group included representatives from Bulgaria, Canada, Hungary, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
The members of Parliament embarked on the CNIM Landing Catamaran "L-CAT" from the naval base of Toulon, then at the conclusion of its offshore demonstration, the L-Cat made its "beaching" on the beach of Saint-Mandrier. Finally they joined the CNIM site of Brégaillon / Lagoubran at la Seyne-sur-Mer for a visit of the production facilities.
With this 150th successful operation, the CNIM L-CAT becomes the French amphibious landing vessel which currently has to its credit the largest number of successful "beaching".