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Why does a SWATH research vessel move less in waves than a single-hull ship?
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undersea exploration
Learn about the pioneering life and work of American oceanographer and explorer Sylvia Earle.
A Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) research vessel achieves superior stability compared to a single-hull ship primarily due to the depth of its submerged hulls.1
In a conventional surface vessel, the hull shape directly influences how the ship interacts with waves at the water's surface. In contrast, a SWATH vessel utilizes twin, streamlined hulls that are positioned well below the water surface to support the structure above. Because the majority of the vessel's displacement is located at these depths, the structure is significantly less affected by surface wave action. This design results in a vessel that experiences only about 10 percent of the motion typically seen in a single-hull design of similar displacement.1