SWATH Seastead

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Description

A SWATH hull is much like a catamaran, but with less waterline area. This minimizes wave motions.

Detail

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/Swath-wl.PNG

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Waterplane_Area_Twin_Hull
• Low wave interactions
• Is more like a ship than a platform, designed to move, hence much faster than a semisub or other oil platform.
• Is fairly new technology, but not completely novel - for example, the US navy has a couple SWATH ships, and there is a SWATH cruise ship. See the wikipedia article above for more info.

Requirements Analysis

• Safety
  • Can run away from storms
• Comfort
  • Less wave response than a boat, due to low waterline area, but probably more than a platform.
  • Heave plates deployed when stationary may help via entrained seawater
• Cost
  • More expensive than simple vessels.
  • May be cheaper than a platform because of not needing to handle big waves, it is unclear.
• Pretty - The twin hulls look somewhat cool, but on top is just a big platform. Moderate.
• Modular
  • It seems quite possible that square or rectangular SWATH ships with cantilevered platforms could be assembled into larger units in calm seas. In heavy seas, they would detach and run for shelter.
• Cargo - Doesn't address this problem, except that its mobility means that we only need to worry about moderate seas, as it will avoid heavy seas.
• Free Floating - Definitely.
• Scalable - Should be able to scale in size.
• Standards - Since SWATHs exist, yes.
• Mobile - Much more mobile than platform-based designs.
• Draft - Much less than a spar, so should be easier to dock in a harbor or shipyard.