Comparative analysis of conventional and swath passenger catamaran

Catamaran as a surface vessel was not significantly improved from the mid of the last century. Conventional single-hull surface vessels were satisfying more or less sufficiently all sailing requirements. After complex theoretical and practical researches it was established that in relation to the conventional passenger vessels, catamarans offer many advantages related to the space, surface and stability in maritime exploitation. Because of his high rate of stability, catamarans were established as a very convenient means for passenger transportation. Catamaran’ s high rate of stability satisfy sailing requirements in the case of small angles of vessel's heel, but in the case of greater heel, catamaran’ s stability is too high resulting in a short, fast rolling periods and extremely expressed inconvenience. To solve the problem SWATH catamarans was introduced. Generally, SWATH catamaran present surface vessels with reduced water line surface. Basic operational principle is that by the reduction of water plane area, where the most quantity of wave energy is concentrated, vessel generates a large amount of stability even in the case of rough sea conditions and high vessel's speed movement. With this principle SWATH catamarans place the most amount of displacement under the water line, where the impact of wave energy is minor. Paper is aimed to compare technical and technological advantages and disadvantages of the both type of surface vessels and to present specific procedures of transformation process from conventional catamaran surface vessel to the SWATH catamaran.