INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS FOR SWATH TECHNOLOGY IN THE LOGISTICS OVER THE SHORE (LOTS) ENVIRONMENT

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DETERMINE THE TECHNICAL MERIT OF USING SMALL WATERPLANE AREA TWIN HULL (SWATH) CONFIGURED CRAFT FOR LOGISTICS OVER THE SHORE (LOTS) OPERATIONS. RECENT EXERCISES SHOW THAT TRANSFER OF CARGO FROM SHIP TO AN UNOPPOSED SHORE IS LIMITED BY THE RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN THE CARGO SHIP AND THE LIGHTER WHEN CONDITIONS EXCEED SEA STATE 2. THIS RESTRICTS THE ENTIRE RESUPPLY MISSION. SWATH VESSELS ARE INHERENTLY LESS SENSITIVE TO SEA CONDITIONS DUE TO THEIR SMALL WATERPLANE AREA. THE SWATH TECHNOLOGY BASE IS WELL DEVELOPED. HOWEVER, THE APPLICATION TO THE LOTS MISSION REQUIRES CAREFUL STUDY BECAUSE SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE SWATH CONFIGURATION COULD LIMIT ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN THIS APPLICATION. THE DRAFT AND LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY ARE THE PRINCIPAL CONCERNS. THIS STUDY WILL TAKE A TOTAL SYSTEM APPROACH TO DETERMINING THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF SWATH APPLICATION TO THE LOTS MISSION. IT WILL ESTABLISH FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS; INVESTIGATE THE MAJOR CONFIGURATION TRADE-OFFS; INVESTIGATE FUNDAMENTAL LIMITATIONS; AND DEVELOP AT A FEASIBILITY STUDY LEVEL OF DETAIL ONE OR MORE SWATH CRAFT. THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY WILL CLEARLY INDICATE WHETHER SWATH TECHNOLOGY HAS POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE LOTS MISSION.