"Bill Kearney" wkearney-99@hot-mail-com wrote

(poorly thought out and semi-informed drivel)

Come on, they aren't going to intentionally go plowing through the bottom.
But, any vessel that routinely works in shallow water is bound to touch
sometime.

The bottom damaging wash of props is right down at the bottom and radiates.
The jet output is horizontal and at the surface. There is a large downward
component in reverse but at slow speeds neither this nor the suction is
going to be significantly more destructive to bottom habitat than props.

Schottle Pump Jets, another kind of water jet, were originally developed
primarily to provide propulsion over sensitive bottom areas. Only later did
they prove to be excellent bow and stern thrusters.

This is not a water sampling vessel. There are plenty of small craft to do
that job. You are not going to take the kind of gear this vessel will be
deploying in small boats.

--
Roger Long