Ship's hull having monohull forebody and catamaran afterbody

A ship's hull, comprising:

• a generally V-shaped monohull forebody shaped to rise in the water above a predetermined reference water level upon being propelled forwardly at a speed exceeding a predetermined speed, said monohull forebody extending over substantially half of the length of the hull and having outer walls defining said monohull forebody;
• a catamaran afterbody, including first and second, spaced apart, catamaran hulls, the catamaran hulls extending from the monohull forebody rearwardly relative thereto and defining a tunnel therebetween, each said catamaran hull having a respective outer wall and each said respective outer wall extending smoothly from a respective one of said outer walls of said monohull forebody, the catamaran afterbody being constructed to carry and to support on it at least the major portion of a load to be carried by the ship's hull, said catamaran afterbody not extending into the monohull forebody;
• deck means extending between and over the tunnel and joining the catamaran hulls;
• and
• venting means having a first end adjacent a boundary region between the monohull forebody and the catamaran afterbody and a second end which remains at all times above water level for maintaining atmospheric pressure conditions at the boundary region and in the tunnel.