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Corporate Profile: Wave Dispersion Technologies, Inc.
MISSION
To be recognized by the
world's militaries, security agencies and marine industry as the global leader
in maritime port security and erosion control technology
solutions.
History
Since it's founding in 1995, Wave Dispersion Technologies, Inc. (WDT) has been
developing the WhisprWave® floating articulated breakwater technology to afford
erosion control protection to shoreline beaches, coastal marinas, anchorages,
and other areas subject to destructive or annoying erosionary wave / wake
forces. The potential uses for the WhisprWave® Technology have, over the last
few years, expanded far beyond its stricly environmentally focused beach and
sand erosion protection beginnings to encompass marine port security and global
antiterrorism applications.
The first marina protection
floating breakwater erosion control installation of a WhisprWave®, in its
original role as a wave attenuation device (floating breakwater), was completed
at Pier Pointe Marina on Great Sodus Bay in Lake Ontario, New York, in 1999. The
Pier Pointe floating breakwater has been in use more than 4 years, requiring no
maintenance and has proven to be far more effective than initial calculations
predicted. The Sodus floating breakwater is approximately 90% efficient in storm
conditions reducing wave height and subsequent wave energy from 4 feet to six
inches within a span of 10 feet. The accompanying Land
and Water article gives an overview of this installation and its success.
In November of 2001, the State
of Connecticut contacted WDT to solve a ferry wake problem on the Thames River
in New London, Connecticut, (across from General Dynamics Electric Boat
Submarine Facility). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) had been designing
a rubble breakwater to solve the problem, but the State would not permit the
installation of a hard structure, and was interested in exploring the
possibilities offered by the WHISPRWAVE® floating breakwater erosion control
technology. The State contacted WDT as a result of seeing the article in Land
and Water.
To solve the ferry wake
problem, WDT has completed the installation of a 150 ft full-scale demonstration
floating wave attenuation breakwater in New London, CT in September 2002 with a
subsequent 4,000 foot $5 mm installation to follow when funding permits. The
floating wake prevention breakwater will be monitored by Stevens Institute of
Technology (www.dl.stevens-tech.edu)
using wavemeter measurements with a subsequent research study to be prepared by
Stevens' Coastal Engineering Department.
After the U.S.S. Cole incident in Yemen in 2000 and the tragedies of 9/11, WDT was contacted by the US Navy concerning a possible deployment of the WhisprWave® technology for use as a maritime port security barrier or line of demarcation ("LOD") to facilitate the security of our country's naval resources. The US Navy originally approached WDT about developing a mobile Naval Security Sign Buoy ("NSSB"), which the US Navy purchased for the Trident Submarine Base in Kings Bay, Georgia. The NSSBs serve to create a maritime security zone around the base, which changes the rules of engagement and allows the use of deadly force. The Trident Submarine Base has subsequently ordered additional buoys and continues to use the NSSBs during its daily
operations.
The US Navy is also interested in WDT's Small Craft Intrusion Barrier™ ("SCIB™"). As an initial step, it requested a 300 feet of SCIB™ to be delivered to Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek ("NABLC") in Norfolk, Virginia for a demonstration in early November 2002. The US Navy has asked for pricing on the SCIB™ in lengths of 1 mile, 5 miles and 10 miles, and Naval Facilities Engineering Services Command (NFESC) has described it as "the definitive, survivable line of demarcation."
In addition to US Navy, there
have been a number of government and commercial agencies that have expressed
interest in the NSSB. Port Authorities, Nuclear Power Plants, and Fuel Depots
are among the many different entities that have expressed interest in the NSSB.
As part of its antiterrorism efforts, the US Coast Guard has been evaluating the
SCIB™ for its own security and for other installations including the mandated
upgrade for nuclear power plants and other waterside commercial interests. The
creation of maritime security zones around the nuclear power plants is the most
critical aspect of these security upgrades. Several nuclear power plants have
contacted WDT concerning the use of the SCIB™ or NSSB to create these maritime
security zones. Officials at one such nuclear power plant, located in upstate
New York, met with WDT to discuss the use of the NSSB as a means of establishing
a maritime security zones around the facility. The plant officials are favoring
WDT's NSSB based upon its functionality, off the shelf availability, and its
current use by the US Navy (King's Bay, Georgia). The potential for use of the
SCIB™ to establish security zones around United States nuclear power plants,
fuel depots, and other high value assets is at least as great as the
opportunities foreseen with the US Navy.
There are additional
miscellaneous uses for the WhisprWave®, including its usage as lane dividers in
swimming pools. Currently, athletes competing in swimming events have to
overcome waves resulting from their swimming activities, as well as those of
their competitors. By replacing the current lane dividers with the patented
WhisprWave® lane dividers, the wake turbulence will be eliminated allowing the
swim lanes to be virtually undisturbed, likely resulting in new world record
times.
Erosion Control and Maritime Port Security Technology
The WhisprWave® is constructed of marine grade proven materials:
- Patented WhisprWave®
modules
- EPDM rubber cables
- Marine grade anchors and
chains
- Stainless Steel Hardware
The base building block of the
WhisprWave® is its patented
module. A module is a highly engineered polygon shaped object made of
high-density polyethylene. A standard module weighs approximately 36 lbs. empty.
The design of the module enables it to be filled or vacuated with water (with
the help of a standard air compressor) to precisely adjust its buoyancy. The
module can be "puncture proofed" by filling it with marine grade
buoyant foam.
WhisprWave® modules are
connected together using a system of EPDM rubber cables, marine grade hardware
and a stainless steel anchoring harness. All WhisprWave applications incorporate
commercially proven marine grade anchoring systems, which vary based upon
installation conditions.
Patents
The WhisprWave® has been patented worldwide since 1998 and has had several
additional follow on patents, including a newly issued U.S. design patent
(D457969). The remaining life on the various patents range from 15 to 22 years.
WDT has applied for and received more than 7 domestic design and utility
patents, and has an additional 20 patents pending. WDT welcomes inquiries from
qualified potential strategic partners who may be able to enhance the expansion
of WhisprWave in worldwide and domestic markets.
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