Minehunter

[7] Minehunters are generally small, shallow-draught vessels, as they are often called upon to work in enclosed bodies of water such as shipping channels or harbours.

As manoeuvrability in such areas is critical the Voith-Schneider cycloidal propulsor is commonly used, allowing the engine thrust to be transmitted in any direction.

A number of modern vessels use catamaran hulls to provide a large, stable working platform with minimal underwater contact; this reduces draught whilst lowering acoustic transmission and reducing the fluid pressure generated by the moving hull that may otherwise detonate mines with a hydraulic pressure trigger.

Coastal minehunters are ships that are designed to find, classify, and destroy moored and bottom mines from vital waterways.

They are usually tasked with keeping fixed high-value choke points clear of mines, such as the approaches to military ports and harbours.