A leader in marine closures? Apparently this is Pacific Coast Marine’s claim to fame and they are now announcing a new line of products with nano-enhanced (?) carbon fibers. (I’ve not come across the term ‘nano-enhanced’ before. Is this a new marketing term?) According to the June 25, 2012 news item on Nanowerk,

Zyvex Marine, a division of Zyvex Technologies, and Pacific Coast Marine announced a partnership to make the industry’s lightest and most durable doors, hatches, and other marine closures using nano-composites. …

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Zyvex Marine, the pioneer of the 54′ boat Piranha that weighs 8,000 pounds yet would have weighed 40,000 pounds with traditional materials, is a leader in watercraft and component manufacturing using carbon nanotube-enhanced carbon fiber materials.

Pacific Coast Marine, a leader in marine closures for nearly 30 years, worked with Zyvex during the last year to develop doors, hatches and closures for current watercraft produced by Zyvex Marine. Now recognizing greater commercial opportunities for lightweight doors and hatches on its boats, Pacific Coast Marine and Zyvex are unveiling a door that weighs 66% less than a traditional door – from 150 pounds to just 50 pounds each – and is more durable.

Both Zyvex Marine and Pacific Coast Marine are nearby neighbours being just a few hours south of Vancouver (Canada) in Washington State.

Here’s a little more about Zyvex Marine from the company’s About page,

Zyvex is the premier provider of carbon fiber nano-composites vessels and specializes in manned and unmanned variants for an array of operating conditions using the most advanced materials science available.

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Zyvex Marine formally became a division of Zyvex Technologies in November 2011 and has a storied history dating back to 2009. In early 2009, the world’s first commercialized carbon nanotube enhanced (CNTe) carbon fiber material, Arovex, enabled the design of a prototype vessel called the 540SE. Setting new standards for fuel efficiency and performance, the lightweight 540SE hull offered a 75% reduction in fuel consumption costs, translating to increased range and lower operating costs.

In 2010, Zyvex Marine manufactured its first prototype craft, the Piranha USV Concept, taking it from the drawing board and into the water in under one year. Setting new standards in range, speed, sea keeping and payload for unmanned vessels, the Piranha USV Concept is a generational leap beyond boats built out of traditional materials like fiberglass or aluminum.

In 2011 Zyvex Marine shipped the first production nano-composite vessel, a lightweight 54′ boat. It set new standards for an unmanned vessel in the areas of range, speed, sea keeping and payload, fulfilling the promises made by the original Piranha USV Concept.

As for Pacific Coast Marine, from the Home page,

Pacific Coast Marine began building its reputation for nearly 30 years by supplying rugged and very high quality marine closures for the North Pacific and worldwide work boat fleets. PCM now is the largest supplier of high quality marine doors, windows and hatches in the world. Applications include superyachts, cruise ships, ocean tugs, ocean crew boats, offshore oil platforms, military vessels, fast ferries and merchant ships. The marine environment demands the very best, and that is PCM.

Given how much traffic there is on the seas, more fuel efficiency seems like a good step forward to using fewer resources. I am assuming, of course, that it doesn’t encourage yet more traffic. I notice that these products can also be used for offshore oil platforms, a topic of some interest in the province of British Columbia where I live.