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In the last half-century, high-speed water transportation has
developed rapidly. Novel high-performance marine vehicles, such as
the air cushion vehicle (ACV), surface effect ship (SES),
high-speed monohull craft (MHC), catamaran (CAT), hydrofoil craft
(HYC), wave-piercing craft (WPC) and small water area twin hull
craft (SWATH) have all developed as concepts, achieving varying
degrees of commercial and military success. Prototype ACV and SES
have achieved speeds of 100 knots in at calm con- tions; however,
the normal cruising speed for commercial operations has remained
around 35-50 knots. This is partly due to increased drag in an
average coastal s- way where such craft operate services and partly
due to limitations of the propulsion systems for such craft. Water
jets and water propellers face limitations due to c- itation at
high speed, for example. SWATH are designed for reduced motions in
a seaway, but the hull form is not a low drag form suitable for
high-speed operation. So that seems to lead to a problem - maintain
water contact and either water propulsion systems run out of power
or craft motions and speed loss are a problem in higher seastates.
The only way to higher speed would appear to be to disconnect
completely from the water surface. You, the reader, might respond
with a question about racing hydroplanes, which manage speeds of
above 200 kph. Yes, true, but the power-to-weight ratio is
extremely high on such racing machines and not economic if
translated into a useful commercial vessel.
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