
“Connecting the Dots in High-Speed Craft Digital Design”
The International Conference on Fast Sea Technology (FAST) is the premier global conference for high performance ships and craft that brings together experts in their research, design, manufacturing, and operations from around the world to share the latest knowledge and experiences with these vessels and their supporting technologies.
FAST 2025 will be held 29 October 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA, ahead of the annual SNAME Maritime Convention. The theme of the 2025 conference is Connecting the Dots in High-Speed Craft Digital Design, with papers concerning the digital thread running through all phases of the system lifecycle. Advanced computational, experimental, and machine learning techniques to facilitate individual elements of the digital thread, and methods to link the elements together to integrate the thread are welcomed.
High performance ships offer improved speed and/or operability in high sea states in comparison to conventional displacement vessels and come in a broad range of configurations in many sizes: planning craft, multi-hulls, hydrofoils, Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) ships, Wing-In-Ground-effect (WIG) craft, air cushion vehicles/hovercraft, surface-effect ships, seaplanes.
Topics of interest for the conference include, but are not limited to:
Novel vessel configurations, hull forms, and hydrodynamics
Propulsion systems, including advances in electric propulsion
Motion control and maneuvering systems
Operational uses of fast ships and craft
Structural design, materials, construction, including additive manufacturing methods
Design processes and tools, including the application of artificial intelligence to design
Modeling & simulation for the analysis of structures, resistance, seakeeping, and maneuvering
Autonomy including mission management, guidance, navigation & controls, and health monitoring
Environmental effects and mitigation, including CO2/alternative fuels and acoustic noise
Economics and the value of speed
Risk, safety, survivability
Classification and regulation, especially as pertains to ground-breaking technologies

The SNAME Technical and Research Program will host the 2025 International Conference of Fast Sea Technology (FAST ‘25) on Wednesday, October 29, just before the start of SMC 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia. Gain recognition and exposure with sponsorship opportunities to reach this influential audience!
View FAST sponsorship opportunities by clicking here.