Nautical Research Towing Tank and Ship Manoeuvring Simulator
Nautical Research Towing Tank and Ship Manoeuvring Simulator
Nautical Research Towing Tank and Ship Manoeuvring Simulator
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1. Knowledge Centre - “Manoeuvring
in Shallow and Confined Water”
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mud accumulates on the fairway bottom. This
mud layer requires maintenance dredging to
ensure the harbour access. The upper layer
however usually consists of highly liquid
mud, which is difficult to dredge. Increasing
draught of vessels causes keels to make
contact with the mud. The manoeuvrability of
the vessel is significantly affected even with
a small under keel clearance above the mud
layer.
Scheur [fairway]. Through the waves the In May 2008, the Knowledge Centre ”Manoeuvring
vessel will pitch, heave and roll. With larger in Shallow and Confined Water” was established.
vessels, this pitching and heaving response It has as objective to collect and record the
may be less, dependent on the wave scientific and experience-based knowledge
spectrum, but the probability of touching concerning the behaviour of vessels in shallow
bottom nevertheless increases on account of or confined waterways, to expand this and to
the decreased keel clearance and the greater keep this knowledge available, in support of
effect of the rolling motion (due to waves, the admittance policy and the development of
wind, bends) by vessels with a larger beam. the waterways for vessels bound for Flemish
ports and inland shipping. The organization of
• There is much shipping traffic to a busy port
the Knowledge Centre is that of a co-operation
such as Antwerp. Vessels meet and overtake
between Flanders Hydraulics Research and
each other, by which the hydrodynamic
the Maritime Technology Division of Ghent
pressure fields of both vessels influence
University.
each other and forces between both vessels
interact. This ship-to-ship interaction can
cause the vessels to drift toward each other,
resulting in a collision. The increasing size
of vessels elevates the probability of such
interactions as well.
• Interactions do not only occur between
the vessels themselves, but also between
the vessel and the river or sea bank. If the
vessel is sailing eccentrically in a channel,
the hydrodynamic pressure field differs
between starboard and port. As a result of
this, a lateral force and a bow out moment
act on the vessel, usually sucking it to the
nearest bank. Smaller under keel clearances
still reinforce this phenomenon. At different
ports throughout the world (amongst others,
Zeebrugge, and to a lesser extent, Antwerp)
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2. Towing tank
As research into the behaviour of vessels in confined water often requires model testing, a shallow
water towing tank was constructed during the years 1992-1993. The “Towing Tank for Manoeuvres in
Shallow water (co-operation Flanders Hydraulics Research – Ghent University)” has been a member
of the ITTC (International Towing Tank Conference) since 1993. It is equipped with a “Planar Motion
Mechanism”, a wave generator and an auxiliary carriage or a second beam connected to the towing
carriage for the testing and measuring of ship hydrodynamic forces and moments. The automatic
control allows the carriage to operate unmanned, so that tests can be automatically carried out and
this on a 24/24, 7/7 basis.
The towing tank has a total length of 87.5 m, approximately 68 m of which can be used for tests,
and a width of 7 m. The water depth has been intentionally limited to 0.5 m, as Flanders Hydraulics
Research only investigates the behaviour of vessels in shallow water, such as typical at ports,
entrance channels and canals.
In order to assure the quality of the test results, the rails on which the towing carriage moves have
been meticulously aligned: the height difference between the two rails and the transverse deviation of
Main carriage
Ship model
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Harbour
the guide rail is less than 0.5 mm. The height difference
over the entire length of the rails is less than 1 mm.
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Main carriage Lateral carriage Yawing
table
Position Min 0.00 m -2.55 m -130.0 °
Max 68.0 m +2.55 m +220.0 °
Velocity Min 0.05 m/s 0.00 m/s 0.00 °/s
Max 2.00 m/s 1.30 m/s 16.0 °/s
Acceleration Max 0.40 m/s² 0.70 m/s² 8.0 °/s²
Power output 4 x 7.2 kW 4.3 kW 1.0 kW
The towing tank is also equipped with a wave generator enabling the study of wave induced vertical
motions made by a vessel induced by waves. A wave generator can generate both regular as well
as irregular waves. This wave generator allows captive sea keeping tests to be carried out, with
which the track of the ship model is imposed by the towing carriage in the horizontal plane. The
vertical response under influence of the generated wave pattern is not impeded and can therefore
be measured experimentally. The wave generator is driven by an electro-hydraulic unit with as
kinematic properties: impact length 0.3 m, velocity 0.6 m/s, acceleration 4.4 m/s².
In order to enable ship interaction tests, the towing tank is equipped with an auxiliary carriage. This
auxiliary carriage can propel a second ship model along a straight course at a maximum velocity of
1.2 m/s, so that tests can be carried out with two encountering or overtaking vessels.
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An alternative for the execution of ship-ship interaction tests is a second beam, which is mounted on a
fixed frame that can be attached to the carriage.
Ship interaction tests: tugboat and Container ship. Ship-ship interaction tests: Aframax and VLCC
During spring 2009 the towing carriage was adapted so that free running manoeuvring tests with a high
level of automation can be carried out as well.
The towing tank application software comprises both the control of the three horizontal degrees of
freedom, rudder, propulsion and other auxiliary equipment, such as the communication between the
PC and the DIOCs (Direct Input-Output Control). The communication between the DIOCs and the PC can
run through a serial port or an Ethernet connection.
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The control and measurement are fully integrated. A mechanical safety device was installed to
prevent the ship model from touching bottom, which could cause damage to the hull, rudder(s),
propeller(s) and/ or force gauges.
3. Bilge pump (bilge water pump) 9. Sinking meter (4x) 15. Vertical motion limiter (4x)
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SOME RECENT PROJECTS Bank effects
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Ship-ship interaction
Website: http://www.sintef.no/Projectweb/STSOps
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Tugboat bow wave interaction
When a tugboat is close to the bow of a container ship, its dynamic behaviour and controllability will
substantially change. Tests were carried out with models in the Towing Tank for Manoeuvres in Shallow
Water in order to determine these effect and their interdependencies. For a clear understanding of
the physical phenomena arising in the proximity of a container ship and a tugboat, the flow around
the container ship and tugboat has been registered. Based on the measurements from the towing
tank, a numerical model will be validated in order to improve the prediction of motion behaviour. This
research is carried out on behalf of the towing and salvage company URS by a student from the Delft
University of Technology within the scope of his Master’s thesis for a Master of Science degree.
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Panama (Research outside the towing tank)
Lock chamber
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Support for the probabilistic admittance policy to the Flemish ports:
Start-up of the ProToel programme for Zeebrugge Port
For the entry to the Port of Zeebrugge there is a deterministic admittance policy which requires a
minimum under keel clearance over the entire itinerary. Moreover, the transverse current velocity at
the port moles may not exceed a maximum value.
A tidal window can be determined on the base of predictions of current and tide. A specific vessel shall
use it to sail, problem-free, an entire itinerary (for example, from Kwintebank to Albert II dock in the Port
of Zeebrugge). However, a probabilistic analysis, which takes the waves, the resulting vessel motions
and bottom touching probability into account, allows a better determination of the tidal windows.
Within the scope of this project, a programme to determine a probabilistic tidal window was implemented.
The databank of vessel motion characteristics has, with the aid of model tests and numerical calculations
with Seaway and Aqua+, been expanded to vessels with a length of 400 m (E- type of Maersk Sealand).
Local information is available for currents, the astronomical tides and standard wave spectra for the
years 2008 and 2009. Furthermore, it is possible to retrieve up-to-date predictions of current, tides and
wave spectra from the HYDRA server and to use these during the calculations.
The user can select a vessel, as well as the draught and the itinerary and indicate the date and time.
The results of the calculations are automatically saved in an XML format and can be directly viewed as
a table in ProToel (Figure 1). This table can be exported to a PDF.
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Results of ProToel calculations
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3. Simulator
The ship manoeuvring simulator comprises various components. There is firstly the mathematical
model. This is the calculating core behind vessel motions. Different forces act upon a sailing vessel:
forces generated by the movement of the vessel through the displaced water, by wind, current, waves
and other passing vessels.
Secondly, the simulator has a navigation bridge. From the instruments, the radar and the exterior
view through the windows of the simulated bridge, the captain or pilot can see how the vessel
behaves. With adaptive commands (rudder(s), telegraph, tugboat assistance) he/she steers the
vessel. Dependent on these commands, the interaction of forces on the vessel can be calculated.
From this, the speed and the new position of the vessel is calculated and displayed on instruments
and radar. In this manner, manoeuvring is simulated as realistically as possible.
Mathematical model
The most important component of the simulator is the mathematical model. On the one hand, it
predicts the effect of external forces acting upon the vessel and on the other hand, the hydrodynamic
forces acting on the vessel’s hull, rudder and propeller.
The mass and all forces acting upon the vessel are calculated five times per second. The new position,
speed and course of the vessel are derived from this. At this new position, all the forces are calculated
anew for a next time-step. From these calculations again the position, speed and course of the vessel
can be derived allowing the vessel to continue to sail up to the end of the manoeuvre.
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objective of this will be clarified later.
Exterior view
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Finally animations such as smoke, undulating Western Scheldt, the Shipping and Assistance
water, weather conditions, indicating lights, Services requested research to scientifically
ambient sound etc. are added to the exterior validate a new arrival and departure regulation.
view.
Research
Research
The dimensions of the examined container ships
were selected in accordance with the maximum
Simulation techniques can be applied for testing size of existing or planned container ships. The
specific proposals for new designs of ports, dimensions of these vessels are given in the
approach/ entrance channels by qualified pilots. table below.
These persons can assess whether a new design
does not hinder navigation so that the limits for MAERSK CMA-CGM MSC MAERSK
safe traffic, the maximum dimensions of the TEU 8400 11400 13230 14000
vessels calling at a port, the maximum allowed LOA (m) 352.0 365.5 381.0 397.6
wind or current on entry, what action to take by
LPP (m) 331.8 349.5 362.4 376.0
poor visibility etc. can be defined.
B (m) 42.8 48.4 51 56.4
It is also possible to examine if new nautical T1 (m) 12.2 12.8 13.1 13.1
procedures and auxiliary resources improve T2 (m) 14.6 15.4 16.0 16.6
safety, e.g. use of tugboats, moving of buoys etc.
The Western Scheldt is a winding river
characterized by a limited water depth and a
RECENT PROJECTS limited width. Predicting the behaviour of the
container ships on the river required the setup
Arrival and departure regulation for 8000 and
more TEU container ships with a maximum of an extensive mathematical modelling which
draught of 145 dm. takes the phenomena given below into account:
• Manoeuvring behaviour in open water with
Location
an under keel clearance varying from 10% to
‘Notice to Mariners 02-2005’ mentions that from 100% of the vessel’s draught;
September 2005 on the arrival and departure
for container ships with a length from 340 m up
to a maximum of 360 m is regulated. Container
ships having the mentioned length can only have
the respective draughts of 140 dm and 130 dm.
Shipping companies were however, on their
request, granted exceptional exemptions on
the base of which some large container ships
departed with a draught of 135dm.
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• The influence of banks on the manoeuvring scenarios were simulated as prescribed by
behaviour; the Steering Committee. It concerned head on
encounters between two large container ships at
• The influence of the interaction with other
three unfavourable locations on the Scheldt (see
vessels on the manoeuvring behaviour.
figure) by a maximum ebb current and maximum
• Apart from the influence of the restricted flood current. Both the approaching as well as
sailing environment on the manoeuvring the departing container ship, were steered by
characteristics, squat also plays a significant pilots on a separate simulator bridge for which a
role in the accessibility for large container coupling of both simulators was necessary.
ships. Squat is the sinking and trimming of the
vessel under the influence of the disturbance This required ten simulation days, with 112
caused by its sailing speed in surrounding encounters carried out in six different situations
water. If a vessel sails in very shallow water, (3 locations by 2 current situations). For each
then this extra sinking may be responsible for of these situations, the encounters could be
bottom touching or serious vibrations may evaluated on the basis of the lateral distance
occur. kept during the encounters and the distance
kept by both vessels up to the line of buoys.
Within the scope of the study 689_04, extensive
research of squat was performed focussing on As an example, the evaluation of encounters is
the effect of the below-mentioned parameters: visualized in the bend of Bath by a flood current.
• Forward speed through the water; The different encounter locations are depicted in
a colour which indicates the reserves with which
• Propeller action; the encounters were carried out. Low evaluation
• Transverse speed through the water; figures (see legend) correspond to favourable
• Yaw rate;
• Other shipping traffic;
• Banks.
The models for squat and manoeuvring behaviour
in confined waters were implemented into the
mathematical model of the ship manoeuvring
simulators.
Evaluation
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encounters.
Results
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aasland Port, accessibility for a 400 m container ship
In this study the accessibility of a second lock, which gives access to the Waasland Port (Antwerp
harbour), was examined for a container ship with a length of 400 m. Currently, the Kallo Lock is the
only access way to this part of the port’s left bank. The vessel has a beam of 56.4 m whilst the lock
has a width of 68 m and a length between the outermost gates of 500 m. In previous studies, the
accessibility was examined for a bulk carrier, and a 350 and 366 m container ship. The entrance
layout of the 2nd lock on the Waasland canal, as amended in the design phase in 2007, was again
used in this study. Additionally, wheel fenders with their depression properties were installed at all
corners of the lock as indicated by the Municipal Port Authority.
These real-time simulations were carried out by the river pilots at the Deurganck Dock and by the
pilots of CVBA Brabo on the Waasland canal while assistance was provided by the tugboat captains
of URS and the port authority towage service. The objective of the simulations was to evaluate the
conditions to be met in order to safely pilot this 400 m container ship in and out the lock. Wind
conditions with different wind directions and wind speeds corresponding to 5 and 6 Bf were applied.
Tugboat configurations were assessed as optimal when the pilots could safely execute manoeuvres
with a minimum contact with the wheel fenders in the lock.
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Manoeuvre simulations - largest sea lock within Flexible tugboat alternative for the protecting
Terneuzen complex pontoons at the West Lock, Terneuzen
The project’s largest sea lock within the Terneuzen During 2008, the bascule bridges of the West
complex (see figure) is accessible for vessels with Lock at Terneuzen were replaced with new
a length of up to 366m and a beam up to 49m. bridges built at a larger distance from the lock
During this study, the behaviour of both a bulk chamber. As a consequence the probability of
carrier as well as a container ship having the car carriers hitting the sensitive superstructure
maximal dimensions was studied in the outer of the bridges was reduced. Simulation research
port configuration by means of a two-dimensional examined which tug assistance was required to
real-time simulation. It encompassed an entry protect the new lock configuration instead of
and departure simulation carried out by the river protecting pontoons (the buffer pontoons AK3
and canal pilots on the basis of a two-dimensional and AK4 and the Europa barge).
plan view, or bird’s eye view, of the vessel and the
surroundings. Further, the influence of the flexible
deployment of towing vessels was examined.
The study yielded information on the required Recommendations were formulated with respect
stopping distance for the studied vessels; the to the most favourable tugboat configuration
optimal position of the sea lock within the dependent on wind conditions.
complex; the optimal configuration of the port
entrance and the necessary tug assistance
depending on the wind condition.
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The position, velocity components and forces
acting upon the vessel during simulation runs
are saved and can thereafter be used for further
analysis.
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Maritime Technology Flanders Hydraulics Research
Ghent University Berchemlei 115
Technologiepark 904 2140 Antwerp
9052 Ghent Belgium
Belgium
Tel: +32 3 224 60 35
Tel: +32 9 264 55 59 Fax: +32 3 224 60 36
Fax: +32 9 264 58 43
Websites
Websites www. watlab.be
www.maritiem.ugent.be www.shallowwater.be
www.bankeffects.ugent.be
Composition
Responsible editor
Repository number
D/2010/3241/119
Release
May 2010
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Website Knowledge Centre Manoeuvring
in Shallow and Confined Water:
http://www.shallowwater.be