SWACAT Technologies is committed to the application of 
Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) technology to vessel design. 

The United States Navy conducted extensive research into SWATH vessel design. Public information from this research along with PC based Finite Element Analysis modeling and AutoCAD programs, and extensive Ocean Engineering academics and experience have enabled SWACAT to apply SWATH technology to build real world vessels. Our unique partnership with Gulf County Shipbuilding allows us to to do this at competitive prices.

The primary benefit of the SWATH design is its stability. Other benefits include an increase in useable space and the isolation of drive engine noise and vibration from the living spaces. 

The key to SWATH stability is the decrease in the amount of surface area presented by the vessel to the water in the wave action zone (the area between the crests and troughs of typical waves.)

As shown in the diagram, a conventional V-shaped monohull presents considerably more surface area in the wave action zone than a SWATH. In contrast, a SWATH moves the buoyancy of the vessel to the two submarine like pontoons that are submerged beneath the wave action zone thus only the narrow struts, which present considerably less surface area, are exposed to the wave action zone.

As a result, a SWATH experiences significantly less rolling moment accelerations (changing forces) due to wave action than a conventional monohull and the roll period (time length) between the accelerations is longer. Thus the SWATH has substantially less of the abrupt jarring motions that typically lead to discomfort and sea-sickness.

SWACAT has optimized various parameters in it's designs for 2 meter or less sea state conditions which are by far the most typically encountered in normal client operations.  However, operationally the SWACAT 80 design has been successfully proven even in 6 to 7 meter sea state hurricane conditions in the Gulf Stream off of southeast Florida - although we don't recommend doing this.

SWATH technology is also currently in year around use onboard oil drilling platforms in the notoriously rough waters of the North Sea.