AbstractThis study presents a new mathematical hull-form that is expressed as an explicit function with 10 hull-form parameters, which is called the Matsui hull-form in this study. The proposed hull-form was developed by expanding the modified Wigley hull-form so that the following 10 hull-form parameters can be independently varied: main dimensions $$L$$
L
, $$B$$
B
, $$d$$
d
, fineness coefficients $${C}_{b}$$
C
b
, $${C}_{\mathrm{m}}$$
C
m
, $${C}_{\mathrm{w}}$$
C
w
, second moment of waterplane area coefficient $${C}_{\mathrm{w}2}$$
C
w
2
, longitudinal center of buoyancy LCB and floatation LCF, and a parameter $$\beta$$
β
related to anterior–posterior asymmetry. The main purpose of this hull-form is that it is utilized for the following two objects: the first is the simple evaluation of the seakeeping performance and wave loads in the early ship designing stage without any detailed offset data, and the second is a systematical study on the influence of a ship’s dimensions on the ship response in waves. This paper presents the derivation of the Matsui hull-form and the applicability of the proposed hull-from was confirmed by comparing the ship response in waves with the actual ships. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis of the ship response in waves was conducted as an example of the application of the proposed hull-form.