Search Results (11)

Predicting the maneuverability of ships equipped with twin azimuth thrusters remains challenging due to their complex hydrodynamic interactions. This study develops an integrated framework that combines Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with an enhanced Manoeuvring Mathematical Group (MMG) Model. Using the platform supply vessel Hai Yang Shi You 661 as a case study, all requisite hydrodynamic derivatives and propeller coefficients were efficiently obtained through CFD-based captive model tests, including oblique towing and Planar Motion Mechanism tests, conducted in STAR-CCM+ 2206. A core contribution of this work is the systematic evaluation of how hydrodynamic model fidelity affects prediction accuracy. Numerical turning circle simulations were executed with three models of increasing complexity: one with only linear derivatives, a second incorporating nonlinear higher-order terms, and a third, full model that additionally includes nonlinear velocity coupling terms. The results, rigorously validated against full-scale trial data, demonstrate that while the basic CFD-MMG approach is feasible, the inclusion of nonlinear coupling terms is critical for achieving accurate predictions in large-amplitude maneuvers. This enhancement reduced the maximum error in tactical diameter prediction from over 25% to approximately 11.8%. Consequently, this study provides a validated and cost-effective framework for maneuvering the prediction of azimuth-thruster vessels and offers clear, quantitative guidance on the necessary level of model complexity for practical engineering applications. Full article

A set of planar motion mechanism experiments of the Duisburg Test Case Post-Panamax container model executed in a towing tank with shallow depth is applied to train a neural network to analyse the ability of the proposed model to learn the effects of different depth conditions on ship’s manoeuvring capabilities. The motivation of the work presented in this paper is to contribute an alternative and effective approach to model non-linear systems through artificial neural networks that address the manoeuvring simulation of ships in shallow water. The system is developed using the Levenberg–Marquardt backpropagation training algorithm and the resilient backpropagation scheme to demonstrate the correlation between the vessel forces and the respective trajectories and velocities. Sensitivity analyses were performed to identify the number of layers necessary for the proposed model to predict the vessel manoeuvring characteristics in two different depths. The outcomes achieved with the proposed system have shown excellent accuracy and ability in predicting ship manoeuvring with varying depths of shallow water. Full article

Ship dynamic models serve as the foundation for designing ship controllers, trajectory planning, and obstacle avoidance. Support vector regression (SVR) is a commonly used nonparametric modelling method for ship dynamics. Achieving high accuracy SVR models requires a substantial amount of training samples. Additionally, as the number of training samples increases, the computational efficiency for solving the quadratic programming problem (QPP) of SVR decreases. Ship controllers demand dynamic models with both high accuracy and computational efficiency. Therefore, to enhance the prediction accuracy and computational efficiency of SVR, this paper proposes a nonparametric modelling method based on twin SVR (TSVR). TSVR replaces a large QPP with a set of smaller QPPs, significantly enhancing generalizability and computational efficiency. To further improve the predictive accuracy of TSVR, the puma optimizer algorithm is employed to determine the optimal hyperparameters. The performance of the proposed method is validated using a Mariner class vessel. Gaussian white noise is introduced into the modelling data to simulate measurement error. The TSVR model accurately predicts various zigzag and turning circle manoeuvring motions under disturbance conditions, demonstrating its robustness and generalizability. Compared to the SVR model, the TSVR model achieves lower root mean square error and computational time, confirming its superior predictive accuracy and computational efficiency. Full article

This paper explores the impact of sampling rates during sea trials on the estimation of hydrodynamic parameters in a nonlinear manoeuvring model. Sea trials were carried out using an offshore patrol vessel and test data were collected. A nonlinear manoeuvring model is introduced to characterise the ship’s manoeuvring motion, and the truncated least squares support vector machine is employed to estimate nondimensional hydrodynamic coefficients and their corresponding uncertainties using the 25°–25° zigzag test. To assess the influence of the sampling rates, the training set is resampled offline with 14 sampling rates, ranging from 0.2 Hz to 5 Hz, encompassing a rate 10 times the highest frequency component of the signal of interest. The results show that the higher sampling rate can significantly diminish the parameter uncertainty. To obtain a robust estimation of linear and nonlinear hydrodynamic coefficients, the sampling rate should be higher than 10 times the highest frequency component of the signal of interest, and 3–5 Hz is recommended for the case in this paper. The validation is also carried out, which indicates that the proposed truncated least square support vector machine can provide a robust parameter estimation. Full article

Manoeuvrability is one of the important ship hydrodynamic performances. That is closely related to the safety and economy of navigation. The development of a high-accuracy and high-efficiency numerical method to compute the forces and moments on manoeuvring ships has been the main task for ship manoeuvring predictions. The numerical method by solving RANS (Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes) equations may be the most used one nowadays for the computations of ship manoeuvring forces and moments. However, applying a RANS tool for ship manoeuvring prediction remains very low efficiency, especially considering the six-degrees-of-freedom ship motions on the water surface. Thus, it is very necessary to introduce a few assumptions to reduce the computational time when applying a RANS tool, e.g., the assumptions of double-body flow and body force propeller, and consequently improve the application efficiency. Generally speaking, the assumption of double-body flow, in which the free-surface effects are neglected, is more suitable for low-speed ships. Nevertheless, rare publications have been reported relating to how this assumption affects the accuracy of the computed manoeuvring forces and moments. To this end, this article presents a comparative study between the RANS simulations of double-body flow and water–air flow around a container ship performing static drift and static circle motions. Three ship speeds, corresponding to the Froude numbers 0.156, 0.201, and 0.260, respectively, are considered during the simulations. The computed side forces and yaw moments obtained by the water–air flow simulations are closer to the available experimental data than that obtained by the double-body flow simulations for all ship speeds. The computed surge forces obtained by water–air flow simulations also agree well with the experimental data, whereas the computed surge forces obtained by the double-body flow simulations are wrong. The reasons are analyzed by comparing the pressure distributions on the ship surface and the flow separations around the ship. Full article

In the last few years, autonomous ships have attracted increasing attention in the maritime industry. Autonomous ships with an autonomous collision avoidance capability are the development trend for future ships. In this study, a ship manoeuvring process deduction-based dynamic adaptive autonomous collision avoidance decision support method for autonomous ships is presented. Firstly, the dynamic motion parameters of the own ship relative to the target ship are calculated by using the dynamic mathematical model. Then the fuzzy set theory is adopted to construct collision risk models, which combine the spatial collision risk index (SCRI) and time collision risk index (TCRI) in different encountered situations. After that, the ship movement model and fuzzy adaptive PID method are used to derive the ships’ manoeuvre motion process. On this basis, the feasible avoidance range and the optimal steering angle for ship collision avoidance are calculated by deducting the manoeuvring process and the modified velocity obstacle (VO) method. Moreover, to address the issue of resuming sailing after the ship collision avoidance is completed, the Line of Sight (LOS) guidance system is adopted to resume normal navigation for the own ship in this study. Finally, the dynamic adaptive autonomous collision avoidance model is developed by combining the ship movement model, the fuzzy adaptive PID control model, the modified VO method and the resume-sailing model. The results of the simulation show that the proposed methodology can effectively avoid collisions between the own ship and the moving TSs for situations involving two or multiple ships, and the own ship can resume its original route after collision avoidance is completed. Additionally, it is also proved that this method can be applied to complex situations with various encountered ships, and it exhibits excellent adaptability and effectiveness when encountering multiple objects and complex situations. Full article

Possible reduction of the installed power on newly designed merchant ships triggered by requirements of the Energy Efficiency Design Indices (EEDI) raised concern in possible safety degradation and revived interest in manoeuvrability standards to make them capable to compensate for negative effects of underpowering. A substantial part of the present article presents a detailed analytical review of general principles laid in the foundation of consistent safety standards in the naval architecture and analysis of the existing IMO manoeuvrability criteria and standards. Possible ways of extension of the existing standards to embrace situations associated with adverse sea and wind conditions are discussed and modification of the present standards related to the directional stability is considered as one of the possible solutions. At the same time, it was found that introduction of additional standards for the ship controllability in wind is justified, and the second part of the contribution is dedicated to developing a theoretical basis useful for devising such standards. This includes obtaining a set of analytical solutions related to the steady motion in wind and analysis of wind-tunnel data which resulted in simple equations for conservative generalized envelopes for the aerodynamic forces which are especially convenient for standardizing purposes. Possible design decisions aimed at augmentation of the ship’s capacity to resist adverse environmental factors are outlined. Full article

This paper deals with the hydrodynamic effect of the ship on a flexible dolphin during a mooring manoeuvre. The hydrodynamic effect refers to the change in momentum of the surrounding fluid, which is defined by the concept of added mass. The main reason for the present study is to answer the question, “What is the effect of the added mass compared to the mass of the ship during the mooring procedure for a particular type of ship?” Measured angular frequencies of dolphin oscillations showed that the mathematical model can be approximated by the zero frequency limit. This simplifies the problem to some extent. The mooring is a pure rocking motion, and the 3D study is approximated by the strip theory approach. Moreover, the calculations were performed with conformal mapping using conformal Lewis mapping for the hull geometry. The fluid flow is assumed to be non-viscous, non-rotating and incompressible. The results showed that the additional mass effect must be taken into account when calculating the flexible dolphin loads. Full article

This paper presents a numerical model for the smart detection of synchronous and parametric roll resonance of a ship. The model implements manoeuvring equations superimposed onto ship dynamics in waves. It also features suited autopilot and rudder actuator models, aiming at a fair depiction of the control delay. The developed method is able to identify and distinguish between synchronous and parametric roll resonance, based on the estimation of encounter wave period from ship motions. Therefore, it could be useful as a smart tool for manned vessels and, also, in the perspective of unmanned and autonomous vessels (in the paper it is assumed a hypothetical remote crew). Once the resonance threat is identified, different evasive actions are simulated and compared, based on course and speed change. Calculations are carried out on a ro-ro pax vessel vulnerable to parametric roll. We conclude that, in roll resonance situations, and in the absence of roll stabilisation systems on-board, course change could be the most effective countermeasure. Full article

In this article, a ship manoeuvrability-based simulation for ship navigation in collision situations is established. Under the general requirement from the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) and good seamanship, the determination of encounter situations is quantified to reduce navigators’ intervention. Meanwhile, the action manner by course alteration or changing speed in some typical encounter situations is graphically analysed for both the give-way and stand-on vessels. Then, the multiple genetic algorithm and linear extension algorithm are adopted to perform trajectory planning for collision avoidance. To improve the reliability of the simulation system, the mathematical model of ship motion and ship manoeuvring control mechanism are adopted, which can eliminate the insufficiency of neglect of ship manoeuvrability in the process of collision avoidance. Meanwhile, the course encoding technique is adopted to fit the ship manoeuvring control mechanism. Finally, a set of traffic scenarios emulating different encounter situations are applied to demonstrate the effectiveness, consistency, and practicality of this system. Full article