SWATH Ships For offshore Protection

SWATH vessels have exceptionally good seakeeping and motion characteristics in relation to their displacement, which renders this hull form especially suitable for prolonged operation in rough seas, and hence for offshore protection duties. Reduced motions result in better seaway speed performance, as well as better crew efficiency and endurance, and the potential for helicopter operations from relatively small vessels. The paper demonstrates the advantages of the SWATH hull form using full scale trials data, and highlights the current state of development of SWATH ships by reference to vessels either built or building. It also illustrates how this hull form may be utilised for OPV work by describing designs for a 38 metre and a 19 metre patrol craft.