Case study: hovercraft in the medivac / mobile ambulance role
Truly all terrain vehicles, Griffon Hoverwork hovercraft are the only vehicle able to provide high speed casualty response and medical evacuation in areas of shallow water, mud, ice, sand or debris. Griffon Hoverwork have more craft in service with Search and Rescue (SAR) organizations that any other manufacturer, including six 470TDs with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Coastguards from Canada to Kuwait also use these craft for medical evacuation and disaster relief.
As well as giving access previously unreachable by conventional boats, hovercraft provide the benefits of:
latest case studies
Case study: hovercraft in the medivac / mobile ambulance role
Case study: hovercraft in jungle operations
Case study: Griffon Hovercraft supporting oil and gas exploration projects
Case study: Hovercraft saving lives in airports around the World
Case study: Griffon craft operating in sub zero temperatures
Case study: hovercraft in jungle operations
Truly all terrain vehicles, hovercraft operate best where it is difficult, if not impossible, for conventional boats to operate. This includes shallow water, fast flowing rivers & rapids, vegetation and debris therefore jungle operations pose no problem to these amphibious craft.
Griffon Hoverwork has extensive experience in designing and manufacturing hovercraft for this purpose. With more than 150 craft in over 40 countries, operated by military, commercial and SAR organizations, we can advise on the best configuration to suit your needs. The Peru Navy is just one customer that operates in the Amazon jungle to prevent drug smuggling activities along the Peruvian – Colombian borders. The hovercraft will easily withstand the humid temperatures and a sophisticated air conditioning system will allow the hovercraft pilots to operate in comfort.
Case study: Griffon Hovercraft supporting oil and gas exploration projects
The oil and gas industry is truly global, with operations conducted in every corner of the globe, from Alaska to Australia and in every habitat known to man. Truly all terrain vehicles, hovercraft are ideal for traversing snow, ice, tundra, shallow water, mudflats and desert, areas rich with valuable resources which are often inaccessible by other forms of transport.
Since the UNCED conference in 1992, protecting the environment has become an important consideration and is now at the forefront of the minds of all major oil, gas and energy companies. As the craft hover just above the surface of the terrain, they do not damage the terrain and their low noise levels make them ideal in today’s environmentally conscious society.
Case study: Hovercraft saving lives in airports around the World
Search and rescue provision can prove a problem for many airports surrounded by water, mud, grass or concrete; areas which are impossible to reach by most forms of transport. In these cases, Griffon Hoverwork hovercraft provide the only rescue solution, proven by the fact that the company has more hovercraft in service in the airport search and rescue sector than any other manufacturer in the World.
The new airport in Seoul on the North/South Korean border is surrounded by mud and sand and has the added complication of becoming icebound during cold winters. The high-speed, amphibious hovercraft therefore is the only option for providing emergency rescue – and a much cheaper alternative to a helicopter.
Case study: Griffon craft operating in sub zero temperatures
Griffon Hoverwork has provided bespoke craft to operate in sub zero temperatures for several customers, including the Swedish Coast Guard, Canadian Coastguard, Crowley Alaska and the Royal Marines, whose 2400TD was deployed in Norway. In 2007 Dr John Hall, a retired marine geophysicist with the Geological Survey of Israel, purchased a 2000TD to be used as an alternative polar research platform. The craft has since been stationed at UNIS, Longyearbyen and operates in snow, ice and blizzards. This has enabled Griffon Hoverwork to gain a deeper understanding into the most effective design and materials necessary to operate in such cold conditions.
Whilst the basic hull structure and craft machinery are the same on all Griffon hovercraft, the superstructure and fit out are entirely different. For craft deployed in cold climates, specialist equipment can be provided. For Dr. Hall’s 2000TD the hovercraft’s specialist insulation, heating system and comfortable interior have made it possible for up to four people to live and work on the craft whilst on location. On the exterior of the craft, an ice drill was fitted, as well as an external probe to measure the thickness of the ice.
Case study: Hovercraft for passenger service
For more than 45 years, Griffon Hoverwork has provided hovercraft to the most successful passenger service in the World. Solent Express, a BHT craft, operates 22,000 crossings each year, carrying more than 800,000 passengers between Southsea on the south coast of the UK to Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
There are significant commercial benefits to operating a hovercraft passenger service. Hovercraft can land on unprepared beaches or slipways, eliminating the need for expensive infrastructure. Generally they are faster than conventional ferries and catamaran services operating the same routes, allowing more crossings, more passengers and more revenue every day.
Swedish Amphibious battalion - 8100TD
Model: 8100TD
Client: Swedish Amphibious battalion
Location: Sweden

Fõrsvarets Materielverk (FMV), the Swedish government’s military procurement agency, have ordered three Griffon 8100TD to be used by the Amphibious Battalion. In a competitive tender Griffon beat its rivals to win the contract with a fully compliant bid, despite the customer already owning one of Griffon’s competitor craft. During the tender process FMV visited several of Griffon’s existing 8000TD users around the world.
The Swedish Amphibious Battalion has a requirement to carry various types of equipment. In one load case the hovercraft will carry a tracked amphibian (BV-206) and its crew or a Humvee, in another a 20ft shipping container will be stowed on board to carry equipment or medical supplies. Alternatively seating for 50 troops and their equipment can be accommodated.
Shell Oil - 3000TD
Case study:
Model: Griffon 3000TD
Client: Shell Oil
Location: Nigeria, Africa

This is the size of craft chosen by the Shell oil company of Nigeria. Shell completed probably the most extensive worldwide evaluation of hovercraft ever undertaken. After some two years of this practical and theoretical evaluation, they placed an order for three craft on Griffon Hovercraft Ltd. The particular specification for their craft included 30 airline-type seats, a separate cargo/freight hold, a toilet and double air conditioning.
The reasons for Shell purchasing hovercraft were:-
Hovertravel, UK - BHT 130
Model: BHT 130
Client: Hovertravel, UK
Location: Solent UK
A BHT 130 and AP188-400 are currently used by Hovertravel in the UK who are the longest serving passenger carrying operator in the world.
Our address
Griffon Hoverwork Ltd.
Hythe Marine Park
Southampton
SO45 6HE
If using Sat-Nav, please use postcode SO45 6DF
Telephone/Fax
Phone: +44 (0)23 80 423450
Fax: +44 (0)23 80 841489
General enquires
sales@griffonhoverwork.com
Sales & Support
Endorsements & Partners
The information contained on this web-site remains the intellectual property of Griffon Hoverwork Limited. The passage of this information to a third party by any individual or company which subsequently leads to sales does not make the person or company that passes on this information an agent of Griffon Hoverwork Limited and no fee or commission will be paid to such person or company unless Griffon Hoverwork Limited has reached a prior written agreement to do so.