The paper deals with a research undertaken at Genoa, Naples and Trieste Universities on the hydrodynamic characteristics of high speed trimaran ships. Towing tank resistance model tests have been carried out on geosims of a trimaran hull equivalent, as regards service capabilities, to a catamaran and a mono-hull operating in the Bay of Naples.
Different forms and positions of outriggers have been considered with the aim of the trimaran performance optimization.
Besides the analysis with the Froude Number method, the wave pattern experimental analysis has been carried out to go deeper on resistance components assessment.
The resistance experimental results relating to the trimaran have been compared with those obtained in previous model tests relative to catamaran and mono-hull ships.
The purpose of this work is to give useful information on the hydrodynamic characteristics of different high speed coastal craft.
