SEAKEEPING ASSESSMENT AND CRITERIA OF NAVAL COMBATANT SWATH VEHICLES

As part of its research programme on civil and military SWATH ships, CETENA has developed a simple algorithm for estimating, at an early design stage, the seakeeping performance of alternative SWATH warship designs. The algorithm has time-saving advantages, compared with more accurate methods, which should justify its adoption, and it is particularly suitable for incorporating in a concept exploration model . The authors describe the basis and development of the algorithm, discuss its capabilities, and present an example in which the method is used to assess the seakeeping characteristics of a 2500-ton SWATH frigate for comparison with those of a conventional frigate of equivalent size .