I've been kicking around some similar concepts for some weeks now. Multihull ships are quite attractive in many respects (for example, you easily have the stability reserve to raise the APAR somewhat and get a slightly better field of view over the SMART-L).
I confess I don't well understand their seakeeping performance, though. For example, it looks here as though waves beyond about 10-15 feet high would crash into the structure over the outrigger sections, which would have obvious repercussions for general comfort and operability, yet hulls like this (and SWATH hulls in particular) are often credited with superior overall seakeeping in heavy seas.
Is this why it took until the Independence to have them enter actual service?