There 

are different types of craft that are appropriate to different niches of the speed
plane. Let us consider the primary choices of Advanced Marine Vehicle to be as follows:
 Monohull
 Catamaran
 SWATH
 Hydrofoil
 SES
 ACV
 WIGs
Below figure shows speed and power data for a collection of vessels.

High-Performance Monohulls:
High-performance monohulls are boats with a single hull that are designed to travel at
high speeds. They are built for speed, agility, and maneuverability and are used in a
variety of applications, including racing, military operations, and recreational activities.
High-performance monohulls are designed to minimize drag and increase speed. They
often have a narrow, streamlined hull with a deep V-shape that allows the boat to cut
through the water at high speeds. The boat is powered by high-performance engines
that turn propellers or jet pumps, which provide the thrust needed to move through the
water. Working Principle: The design of a monohull allows it to move through the water
by displacing the water around it. As the boat moves forward, the water is displaced by
the hull, creating a wake behind the boat. The shape of the hull is designed to minimize
drag and increase efficiency, allowing the boat to move through the water with less
resistance.
The hull of high-performance monohulls is usually made of lightweight materials such as
carbon fiber or Kevlar, which reduces weight and improves performance. Overall, high-
performance monohulls are designed to be fast, agile, and highly maneuverable,
making them ideal for applications where speed and agility are essential.

Catamarans

Catamarans are a type of multi-hull boat that features two hulls that are parallel to each
other. The two hulls are joined together by a deck or platform, creating a wide and
stable platform. The design of a catamaran offers several advantages over traditional
monohull boats, such as increased stability, reduced drag, and increased speed.

Design: Catamarans can have various designs and sizes, from small recreational boats
to large commercial vessels. The two hulls of a catamaran are usually symmetrical in
shape and separated by a wide beam. The hulls are often designed with a flat bottom
and a shallow draft, allowing the catamaran to sail in shallow waters.

Stability: One of the most significant advantages of a catamaran is its stability. The wide
beam and the parallel hulls provide a stable platform that is less prone to tipping over
compared to a monohull boat. This makes catamarans ideal for sailing in rough waters
and in areas where there are strong currents or winds.

Speed: Catamarans are known for their speed. The design of a catamaran allows for
reduced drag, which results in a faster and more efficient sailing experience. The two
hulls also provide greater surface area, which allows the catamaran to sail at higher
speeds with less resistance.

Applications: Catamarans are used for a variety of applications, such as recreational

sailing, commercial fishing, and transportation. They are often used for charter cruises,
island hopping, and other types of leisure activities

SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull):

Since catamarans (double hulls) have higher transverse stability than monohulls, it
sometimes comes across as a problem. Increased transverse stability means reduced
seakeeping abilities. In order to combat this in double hulls, SWATHs have been
developed to feature low waterplane area. These are also displacement type hulls like
typical displacement catamarans, and the lost hull volume due to low waterplane is
compensated by providing increased cross sections in the part of the hull that is further
from the water surface, as shown in the figure below

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The small waterplane significantly reduces the wave drag at higher speed and
increases seakeeping abilities of the hull. But it also comes with a con. The small
waterplane area results in increased sensibility to load changes within the hull. This is
compensated by a compensating system that uses ballast water to make up for the load
changes to prevent unwanted trim and heel conditions.
Hydrofoil Crafts:
A hydrofoil craft is one in which the lift force is generated during forward motion due to
the presence of hydrofoils under its hull. However, they are to be operated at the
optimum speed that corresponds to the maximum lift provided by the hydrofoil sections.
Operation at speeds further away from the optimum lift region would result in an
increase of power requirement since the lift is proportional to the square of the velocity.

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Note the hydrofoil sections under the hull in the above image. We will come into this
type of hydrofoil crafts a little later, but what is important to understand is the added
advantage of hydrofoils. When a hydrofoil craft operates at its optimum speed, there
comes a point where the lift force generated by the hydrofoils lift the hull or a significant
portion of the hull above the water surface (as you can see in the figures below). This
reduces the wetted surface area, therefore reducing the frictional drag significantly.
There are two types of hydrofoil crafts depending on the extent to which the hydrofoils
are submerged during operation of the craft:

 Surface Piercing Hydrofoil

 Incidence Controlled or Completely Submerged Hydrofoils

Working Principle: Hydrofoil boats work on the principle of hydrodynamics. When a boat
moves through the water, it creates a pressure differential between the upper and lower
surfaces of the hydrofoil wings. This pressure difference generates lift, which causes the
boat to rise out of the water.

Air Cushion Vehicles:

Air Cushion Vehicles (AIVs) are supported not by upward buoyancy force, but by an
aerostatic cushion developed between the inflatable skirt and the water surface. The
most common type of air cushion vehicles is a Hovercraft. A schematic diagram below
will be used to explain the working of this craft.
An ideal air cushion vehicle will have four major components which help in its
propulsion:

1. Propellers.
2. Air.
3. Fan.
4. Flexible or Inflatable Skirt.

Air cushion vehicles (ACVs), also known as hovercrafts, were developed in the 1950s
and 1960s as a new type of vehicle that could travel over water, land, and other
surfaces. ACVs are unique in that they use a cushion of air to lift the vehicle off the
surface, reducing friction and allowing for higher speeds.

Working Principle: ACVs work on the principle of air cushion technology. They have a
flexible skirt around the bottom of the vehicle that traps a cushion of air beneath it. The
air is forced through small holes in the skirt, creating a low-pressure zone beneath the
vehicle. The vehicle is then lifted off the surface, reducing friction and allowing for
smoother movement. ACVs are propelled by one or more engines that drive fans or
impellers that create a high-pressure zone beneath the vehicle, pushing it forward.

History: The first ACV was developed in the 1950s by British engineer Christopher
Cockerell, who patented the design in 1955. The first ACV to go into commercial
operation was the SR.N1, developed by Saunders-Roe in 1959. The SR.N1 was used
for passenger and vehicle transport across the English Channel. The development of
ACVs continued throughout the 1960s and 1970s, with the introduction of larger and
more powerful ACVs for military and commercial applications.

Applications: ACVs are used for a variety of applications, including military, commercial,
and recreational uses. They are used for transport across water and land, search and
rescue missions, and military operations. ACVs are also used for tourism, such as
sightseeing tours, and for sport, such as racing and recreational use.

Surface Effect Ship (SES)

A Surface Effect Ship (SES) is a type of high-speed marine vessel that operates by
utilizing the aerodynamic lift generated by a cushion of air between the hull and the
water surface. This allows the SES to reach higher speeds than traditional displacement
hulls, while also offering improved fuel efficiency.

Working Principle: The SES works on the principle of aerodynamic lift generated by a
cushion of air that is trapped between the hull and the water surface. The hull is
designed in such a way that it creates a "wing in ground" effect, which generates lift as
air is forced under the hull and trapped in a cushion. This cushion reduces drag and
allows the vessel to travel at higher speeds while consuming less fuel. The SES is
typically powered by one or more gas turbine engines that drive the fans or impellers
that create the cushion of air.

History: The concept of SES was first developed in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and
was originally used for military purposes. The first commercial SES, the Boeing 929
Jetfoil, was introduced in the 1970s and was used for passenger transport in Hawaii and
Japan. Since then, SES technology has continued to be developed and has been used
for a variety of applications, including military, commercial, and recreational use.

Applications: SESs are used for a variety of applications, including military and
commercial transport, offshore oil and gas exploration, search and rescue missions, and
recreational use. They offer higher speeds and improved fuel efficiency compared to
traditional displacement hulls, making them ideal for applications that require speed and
efficiency.

Wing in Ground Effect (WIG) or "WIGs":

Wing in Ground Effect (WIG) or "WIGs" is a type of advanced marine vehicle that
operates by creating a cushion of air between the wings of the vehicle and the water
surface, similar to how an airplane creates lift. This allows the vehicle to travel at high
speeds while consuming less fuel than traditional marine vessels.
Working Principle: The WIG operates by utilizing the aerodynamic lift generated by the
wings of the vehicle as it flies close to the water surface. As the WIG moves forward,
the air pressure below the wings increases, creating a cushion of air that reduces the
drag on the wings and provides additional lift. This reduces the amount of fuel needed
to maintain the vehicle's speed and allows it to travel at higher speeds than traditional
marine vessels.

History: The concept of WIGs was first developed in the Soviet Union in the 1960s for
military applications. The first WIG prototype, known as the Ekranoplan, was developed
for the Soviet Navy as a high-speed missile platform. Since then, WIG technology has
continued to be developed and has been used for a variety of applications, including
military, commercial, and recreational use.

Applications: WIGs are used for a variety of applications, including military and
commercial transport, search and rescue missions, and recreational use. They offer
higher speeds and improved fuel efficiency compared to traditional marine vessels,
making them ideal for applications that require speed and efficiency. They can also be
used to transport cargo and people over long distances, making them an important
transportation option for remote areas and islands.