Following in the footsteps of the English
channel-swimming Fiat Panda Terramare, which
Milanese
engineer Maurizio Zanisi designed during the last
decade, comes the Iveco SeaLand, another amphibious
vehicle, this time based around an Iveco Daily 4x4
chassis.
The new SeaLand experimental amphibian, was presented by
Iveco for the first time along with two other special vehicles
designed for use in emergency operations at last month's
52nd edition of the Genoa International Boat Show, held
at the Genoa Fairground. This major boat show, draws
over 250,000 visitors each year, ranging from industry
professionals to boating fans.
The SeaLand has been designed to be used as a tender for large yachts,
and at
a first glance, it clearly recalls the dimensions of the Iveco Daily
van from which it
is derived.
This unique amphibious vehicle
went on to prove its performance capabilities in the
water during the Genoa International Boat Show by taking a short trip
from the shoreline out onto a pier and then descending into
the Ligurian Sea.
While the SeaLand was the star of Iveco’s exhibition
space, it was not the only vehicle in the spotlight. The
company’s strength in emergency operations was on
display thanks to two other vehicles: the RAVx6 “Duffy”
(Rescue Amphibious Vehicle), an amphibian with a 6x6
drive for emergencies executed by fire departments and
civil protection units, and an Eurocargo 160E 30
outfitted with a Magirus 32-L AT articulated
fire-fighting turntable ladder.
SeaLand – a reliable and secure vehicle both in
water and on land
This experimental vehicle consists of a
modified Iveco Daily 4x4. No changes were made to the
mechanical parts of the vehicle, confirming the
exceptional strength and quality of the Iveco
light duty vehicle.
On the other hand, a number of
modifications were made to the vehicle in order to
enable it to sail in the sea, starting with a customised
underside specially designed to make it watertight, with
a “hull” of steel sheet metal welded around it.
The vehicle is propelled by a hydrojet coupled with a
powerful three-litre turboDiesel, while the maximum
autonomy is assured thanks to additional tanks that can
hold up to approximately 300 litres of fuel. The vehicle
has already been deployed in several missions including
a 14-hours crossing of the Corsica Channel, measuring 75
nautical miles, equal to around 140 kilometres.
