Hydrodynamic Performance and Structural Design of a SWATH Ship

The practical design technique of SWATH ships developed by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation is described. This includes the systematic approaches of conceptual design, optimization of shipform and principal dimensions, predictions of powering performance, seakeeping behavior and motion stability, assessment of structural loads, static and dynamic strengths of a SWATH ship traveling in random waves. The design and evaluation of an ocean-survey SWATH ship with the displacement of 1500t is illustrated as an example. In the design process, the linear and non-linear three-dimensional hydroelasticity theories were employed to predict the loads and to assess the structural safety of the vessel traveling in rough seas. The resistance, seakeeping and maneuvering behaviors and the wave loads of the designed vessel were verified by a set of restricted and free-running model tests carried out in towing tank and wave basin at CSSRC. These are briefly described in this paper.