The success of some commercial fast ferry designs and technologies has fueled an interest in achieving high speeds in the next generation of naval ships. Some commercial fast ferries already have been adapted for naval use. The U.S. Navy would like to reach speeds of 50 knots, which any naval architect knows are not achieved without difficulty. High-speed ships have many virtues but also present several drawbacks. These drawbacks concern performance on the open ocean in high sea states, structural integrity, speed at the expense of range and payload, and reliability. Each drawback is briefly discussed and it is concluded that pursuing high speed as a principal characteristic of ships poses challenges for Navy technology, research, and dedication.
Abstract