Spider Boat Strikes Back!

That weird-ass pontoon boat that first appeared in San Francisco in January has arrived in New York on the last leg of its national tour, the AP reports:

It's just Proteus, a so-called Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel designed for everything from military uses to biological studies, ocean exploration and sea rescue. Daniel Basta, director of the National Marine Sanctuaries for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, said the lightweight, low cost and modular craft is well suited to scientific and environmental purposes. The spindly catamaran can travel 5,000 miles — farther than across the Atlantic — on one 2,000-gallon load of diesel fuel.

The $1.5-million Proteus is privately owned, but the U.S. Navy is reportedly interested. What for? East Bay Express explains:

*Given Proteus' transoceanic range, ability to land on a beach, and stealth profile, WAM-class vessels appear ideal for Special Forces and black-ops. ... "For me, one of the most interesting applications would be unmanned oceangoing drones," [inventor Ugo] Conti said. "WAM-class vessels are capable of staying out at sea a very long time, they're fast, they're difficult to see because their profile is so close to the water, and they leave no wake." *