Multiple criteria optimization applied to high speed catamaran preliminary design

The demand for high-speed craft (mainly catamarans) used as passenger vessel has increased significantly in the recent years. Looking towards the future and trying to respond to the increasing requirement, high-speed crafts international market is passing through deep changes. Different types of high-speed crafts are being used for passenger transport. However, catamarans and monohulls have been the main choice not only for passenger vessel but also as ferryboat.Generally speaking, the efficient hydrodynamic hull shapes, engine improvements, and lighter hull structures using aluminum and composite materials make possible the increase in cruising speed.The high demand for catamarans are due to its proven performance in calm waters, large deck area compared to monohull crafts and higher speed efficiency using less power. Although the advantages aforementioned, the performance of catamaran vessels in wave conditions still needs to be improved.The high-speed crafts (HSC) market is demanding different HSC designs and a wide range of dimensions focusing on lower resistance and power for higher speed. Therefore, the hull resistance optimization is a key element for a high-speed hull success.In addition to that, trade-off high-speed catamaran (HSCat) design has been improved to achieve main characteristics and hull geometry. This paper presents a contribution to HSCat preliminary design phase. The HSCat preliminary design problem is raised and one solution is attained by multiple criteria optimization technique.The mathematical model was developed considering: hull arrangement (area and volume), lightweight material application (aluminum hull), hull resistance evaluation (using a slender body theory), as well as wave interference effect between hulls, calculated with 3D theory application. Goal programming optimization system was applied to solve the HSCat preliminary design.Finally this paper includes an illustrative example showing the mathematical model and the optimization solution. An HSCat passenger inland transport in Amazon area preliminary design was used as case study. The problem is presented, the main constrains analyzed and the optimum solution shown. Trade off graphs was also included to highlight the mathematical model convergence process.     

Effect of criteria on seakeeping performance assessment

The overall performance of ships depends on the seakeeping performance in specified sea areas where the vessel is designed to operate. The seakeeping performance procedure is based upon the probability of exceeding specified ship motions in a sea environment particular to the vessel's mission. Given the operational area of the vessel, the percentage of time the vessel operates in a particular sea state can be determined from an oceanographic database through application of the response amplitude operators. The predicted motions are compared to the motion limiting criteria to obtain the operability indices. However, the operability indices are strongly affected by the chosen limiting criteria. This is particularly the case for passenger vessels where many conflicting criteria are used to assess the effect of motions and accelerations on comfort and well-being of passengers. This paper investigates the effect of seakeeping criteria on seakeeping performance assessment for passenger vessels. Conventional seakeeping performance measures are evaluated for various levels of vertical accelerations defined by the ISO 2631 standard. It is shown that the estimated seakeeping performance of a passenger vessel greatly depends on the level of limiting value selected as the seakeeping criteria.     

Investigation of motions of catamarans in regular waves—I

In this paper an analytical technique based on the two-dimensional Green function method associated with a cross-flow approach for taking viscous effects into account to estimate the motion response of catamarans in the frequency domain is presented. In order to validate this method, the numerical results are compared with experimental values obtained for two different catamarans (ASR5061 [Wahab, R., Pritchett, C. and Ruth, L.C. 1971. On the behaviour of the ASR catamaran in waves. Marine Technology, 8, 334–360] and Marintek [Faltinsen, O., Hoff, J.R., Kvalsvold, J. and Zhao, R. 1992. Global loads on high speed catamarans. 5th Int. Symp. on Practical Design of Ships and Mobile Units, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1.360–1.373]).In the second part of the paper the tests carried out with a third catamaran configuration at the Hydrodynamics Laboratory of the University of Glasgow are presented to evaluate the non-linear effects. These test results cover different speeds and wave heights at a wide range of wave frequencies. The paper concludes that the two-dimensional method correlates very well with measurements of small amplitude motions. For large amplitude motion tests, the non-linear effects become significant when the model speed and wave amplitudes increase. The peak values of heave and pitch motions measured around the resonance frequency are smaller than those obtained from the linear theory.     

Theoretical prediction of running attitude of a semi-displacement round bilge vessel at high speed

Running attitudes of semi-displacement vessels are significantly changed at high speed and thus have an effect on resistance performance and stability of the vessel. There have been many theoretical approaches about the prediction of running attitudes of high-speed vessels in calm water. Most of them proposed theoretical formulations for the prismatic hard-chine planing hull. In this paper, running attitudes of a semi-displacement round bilge vessel are theoretically predicted and verified by high-speed model tests. Previous calculation methods for hard-chine planing vessels are extended to be applied to semi-displacement round bilge vessels. Force and moment components acting on the vessel are estimated in the present iteration program. Hydrodynamic forces are calculated by ‘added mass planing theory’, and near-transom correction function is modified to be suitable to a semi-displacement vessel. Next, ‘plate pressure distribution method’ is proposed as a new hydrodynamic force calculation method. Theoretical pressure model of the 2-dimensional flat plate is distributed on the instantaneous waterplane corresponding to the attitude of the vessel, and hydrodynamic force and moment are estimated by integration of those pressures. Calculations by two methods show good agreements with experimental results.     

Experimental study of wave loads on a small vehicle in close proximity to a large vessel

Operations involving the launch or recovery of a smaller vessel from a larger one are extremely dangerous in high sea states and, therefore, they are normally carried out in low to moderate sea states. However, this can be severely restrictive and in some situations, carrying out such operations in high sea states is unavoidable. Here we report on a detailed investigation of the interaction between two vessels of different size in order to characterise their hydrodynamic interaction under different conditions and to provide insight for operational purposes. Model experiments were conducted to investigate the hydrodynamic interaction between two vessels in close proximity in waves. Previous studies into this interaction have focused on two vessels with comparable size/displacement. This study focused on the interaction between vessels of very different sizes, a platform supply vessel and a lifeboat, at various separation distances between the two models and wave headings. It is found that the effect of the hydrodynamic interaction on the wave loads on the lifeboat model is substantial. The load responses show a strong non-linearity (high order harmonic components). In head waves, the effect of the hydrodynamic interaction on the wave loads is greater in the transverse modes (sway, roll and yaw) than in the longitudinal modes (surge, heave and pitch). The sheltering effects of the larger model on the lifeboat model were also evident from the experiments. The results of this investigation may be used to inform the planning of marine operations, such as the launch and recovery of a lifeboat or an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) from a mothership and the transfer of equipment or personnel between vessels. The data will also provide a useful resource for validation of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes and other numerical simulations, and can be used to better understand the limitations and potential widening of the operational weather windows and to ensure that operations are carried out safely.     

基于AIS信息校准的双频地波雷达的船只融合跟踪

高频地波雷达（HFSWR）和自动船只确认系统（AIS）是船只跟踪的重要传感器。高频地波雷达可以用来跟踪探测区域的所有船只，而AIS只能用来确认合作船只的信息。由于海杂波的干扰，使用单频率地波雷达的船只跟踪会淹没在布拉格峰值的盲区里，改变探测频率是克服这一缺点的有效手段。在这种背景下，我们提出一种基于AIS校准的双频雷达融合探测算法。因为不同频率的地波雷达测量与AIS的测量值存在系统误差，所以AIS信息可以用来估计和校准地波雷达的每个频率的系统误差。首先，将合作目标的点迹测量与地波雷达的点迹测量通过JVC分配算法进行点迹关联。从合作船只的点迹关联结果中，双频雷达的系统误差可以估计和校准。其次，基于校准的双频雷达数据，使用融合JPDA-UKF算法进行船只跟踪。通过真实探测的数据的实验结果显示所提算法可以实时跟踪船只，相比单频率跟踪可以进一步提高跟踪能力和跟踪精度。     

Regional fish stock management: A model for North-West Africa

Development of a bio-economic model for applications in managing an important north African fishery is reported in this article. The model is applied through identification of baseline conditions and analysis of two alternative fishery management plans; limiting the number of vessels and instituting a closed season. Several key assumptions relative to biological and fleet variables are necessarily made, since in some areas historical data are limited. However, results strongly suggest that rents to resource owners (African coastal countries) can be substantially increased by either method of limiting access to the fishery and by licensing vessels and fishermen.     

The influence of hull form on the motions of high speed vessels in head seas

Prediction of ship motions at high Froude number is carried out using a time domain strip theory in which the unsteady hydrodynamic problem is treated in terms of the motion of fixed strips of the water as hull sections pass through it. The Green function solution is described and the integration of the ship motion carried out by an averaging method to ensure stability of the solution. The method is validated by comparison with tank data for conventional slender hulls suitable for catamarans, small water area twin hull (SWATH) forms and hulls suitable for high-speed monohulls. Motion computations are then carried out for 14 designs with an operating speed of 40 kts and a displacement of 1000 tonnes. The vessels are assumed not to be fitted with motion control systems for the purposes of this comparative study. Motion sickness incidence is predicted to rise to between 42 and 72% depending upon the hull design in 3 m head seas of average period 7.5 s. MSI values reduce in smaller seas with a shorter average period to be less than 15% in all cases in 1m seas with an average period of 5.5 s.     

Investigation of motions of catamarans in regular waves—II

By extending the linear frequency domain theory, a quasi-non-linear time-domain technique has been developed to investigate the large amplitude motions of catamarans in regular waves. The non-linearity of hydrodynamic forces included in this practical method comes from variations of a ship's submerged portion. These forces are obtained from a database generated by the linear frequency domain method at each time step. The coupled equations, heave and pitch, are solved in the time domain by using the Runge-Kutta method with proper initial values. In order to investigate the non-linear effects of large amplitude motions of the V-1 catamaran in the head-sea condition, numerical results obtained from the linear and non-linear strip methods have been compared with those obtained from a series of experiments carried out in the towing tank of the Hydrodynamics Laboratory at the University of Glasgow. Based on the comparative studies, the numerical results obtained from the time-domain program can provide better predictions for the large amplitude motions of catamarans than the linear frequency domain method. It is concluded that the non-linear effects are significant when the model speeds and wave amplitudes increase. The peak values of large amplitude motions around the resonance frequencies, as obtained from the non-linear time-domain predictions as well as from measurements, are smaller than those obtained from the linear theory.     

A design chart for the plastic collapse of corrugated cylinders under external pressure

The paper presents a theoretical and an experimental investigation into the plastic collapse of circular steel corrugated cylinders under external hydrostatic pressure. The experimental investigation gives a detailed study of 9 steel corrugated cylinders which were tested to destruction. Six of these cylinders failed by plastic non-symmetric bifurcation buckling and three failed by plastic axisymmetric deformation. The results of these tests were used, together with the results obtained from previous tests, to present a design chart for the plastic collapse of these vessels. The design chart was obtained by a semi-empirical approach, where the thinness ratios of the vessels were plotted against their plastic knockdown factors. The process of using the design chart is to calculate the theoretical elastic instability pressure for a perfect vessel by the finite element method and also to calculate the thinness ratio for this vessel. Using the appropriate value of the thinness ratio, the plastic knockdown factors are obtained from the design chart. To obtain the actual collapse pressure of the vessel, the theoretical elastic instability pressure for a perfect vessel is divided by the plastic knockdown factor. This work is of importance in ocean engineering. A large safety factor must also be introduced.     

新型双船起重拆除平台试验研究

拆除大型海上结构物是一项非常复杂且充满挑战的工程。现提出一种新型海上平台拆除方案,该方案利用三条半潜船来代替具有重型起重装置的单一船舶,通过两艘相同的半潜船将平台上层建筑托起,随后运至第三艘半潜船上完成平台拆除。在风浪流作用下,半潜船和平台的所处方位和运动姿态一直处于动态变化中,这对船舶调节压载的稳定性以及双船运动的同步性提出了要求。为了确保该方案的高效性和安全性,设计了一套完整的模型试验装置,包括船舶模型、平台拆卸辅助设备、六自由度运动采集与分析系统、控制系统、无线通讯系统以及测量系统。开展了相应的水池试验,试验结果验证了双船起重拆除平台方案中双船协同运输这一关键环节的可行性和安全性。     

Risk analysis for capsizing of small vessels

Vessel accidents during stormy weather conditions over Kuwait's coastal waters are one of the major concerns for insurance and re-insurance companies, since such accidents can result in not only material losses but also losses of lives. In order to determine insurance rates for different types of vessels and their operators, it is desirable to estimate the risk or probability of occurrence of an accident and the resulting expected damage or losses associated with a given vessel type under the local wave conditions first. Therefore, there is a national need for such a study to provide this type of basic information on the risks or probabilities of vessel accidents caused by high waves within the Kuwait's territorial waters. The main objective of this study is thus to provide such information for the local and international agencies and companies concerned with sailing operations and maintenance, navigational safety, and particularly insurance of small recreational and commercial vessels. The study was carried out with the financial support of M/s Warba Insurance Company and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, Kuwait.     

Adaptive fuzzy controller design for dynamic positioning system of vessels

This paper develops an adaptive fuzzy controller for the dynamic positioning (DP) system of vessels with unknown dynamic model parameters and unknown time-varying environmental disturbances. The controller is designed by combining the adaptive fuzzy system with the vectorial backstepping method. An adaptive fuzzy system is employed to approximate the uncertain term induced by unknown dynamic model parameters and unknown time-varying environmental disturbances. It is theoretically proved that the proposed adaptive fuzzy DP controller can make the vessel be maintained at the desired values of its position and heading with arbitrary accuracy, while guaranteeing the uniform ultimate boundedness of all signals in the closed-loop DP control system of vessels. Simulation studies with comparisons on a supply vessel are carried out, and the results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.     

On the use of the capability polar plots program for dynamic positioning systems for marine vessels

As the capability of polar plots becomes better understood, improved dynamic positioning (DP) systems are possible since the control algorithms greatly depend on the accuracy of the aerodynamic and hydrodynamic models. The measurements and estimation of the environmental disturbances have an important role in the optimal design and selection of a DP system for a marine vessel. The main objective of this work is to present a new software program capable of estimating the environmental forces, thrusters capability calculations, and capability polar plots for marine vessels. A flowchart illustrating the logic and data flow of a developed software program, the Capability Polar Plot Program (CPPP), and the estimated results for two case studies for a scientific drilling vessel and a survey vessel are presented. It is obvious from the obtained results that the developed program has a future potential for the estimation of the Capability Polar Plots for marine vessels. Moreover, the developed software program would be considered as a marine tool for the thrusters' selection and their configuration for marine vessels and floating production units for the Oil and Gas industries.     

基于YOLOv3深度学习的海雾气象条件下海上船只实时检测

海雾气象条件下船只高精度检测识别面临较大困难，传统的目标识别、定位方法效果差强人意。作者围绕海雾气象条件下不同类型船只的实时检测问题，提出一种基于YOLOv3深度学习的实时海上船只检测新思路。首先构建清晰图片和模糊图片（海雾、雨）的判别方法，实现图片清晰度分类处理；其次为提高海雾气象条件下海上船只的实时检测精度，消除海雾遮挡对目标识别的影响，运用暗通道先验去雾方法对含有海雾的图像实行去雾；最后基于YOLOv3深度学习算法对精细处理后的图像进行船只实时检测。实验结果表明该方法能够在海雾气象条件下高效、准确地检测到船只，对海上复杂环境条件下的船只实时检测研究具有一定的理论指导意义。     

Ship hull drag reduction using bottom air injection

The idea of bottom air injection to reduce ship hull resistance is not new. Early patents envisioned planing hull applications. Recent planing hull tests speed realized an increase of 7–12 knots. River barges and ship fitted with an air injection system results are presented to show a 10–15% reduction in the frictional resistance. Graphs for making initial estimates for displacement hulls with bottom air injection are presented. It is clear from these results that improvements in high speed planing catamarans and full form hull resistance can be realized by using bottom air injection.     

Measuring capital value in a commercial fishery: A distance function approach

The term “overcapitalized” is frequently used to describe the condition of various fisheries, and to explain why a fishery is in poor condition from a stock status perspective. Often, the concept of overcapitalization is associated with the number of active vessels in a fishery. Although vessel counts are important, they do not fully capture investment or disinvestment in a fishery, and only serve as a crude proxy for a richer concept of fishing capital. A better measure to judge whether overcapitalization is occurring would be the change in capital value for vessels operating, or permitted in a fishery, relative to a benchmark value. Unfortunately, data do not always exist to measure vessel value and associated changes through time. This study presents a method for calculating vessel capital value using a distance function, publicly available vessel sale price data, and non-parametric programming methods. Estimates of value for vessel attributes returned by the distance function are then used to estimate a total value for currently permitted vessels in the northeast region of the United States, and to construct a capital value index for vessels active in the squid, mackerel and butterfish (SMB) fishery between 1996 and 2016. Findings show that the total value of commercially permitted vessels in the northeast region is estimated to be between $606.6 and $769.7 million ($2016). Based on the constructed capital value index, the SMB fishery has undergone a period of disinvestment marked by both declining vessel numbers and capital value.     

Nonlinear control of an active heave compensation system

Heave motion of a vessel or a rig has an adverse impact on the response of a drill-string or a riser. To compensate for heave motion, passive and active devices are usually used. Active heave compensators, in which a control system is an essential part, allow conducting operations under more extreme weather conditions than passive ones. This paper presents a constructive method to design a nonlinear controller for an active heave compensation system using an electro-hydraulic system driven by a double rod actuator. The control system reduces the effect of the heave motion of the vessel on the response of the riser by regulating the distance from the upper end of the riser to the seabed. The control development is based on Lyapunov's direct method and disturbance observers. The paper also includes a method to select the control and disturbance observer gains such that actuator saturations are avoided. Stability of the closed loop system is carefully examined. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control system.     

Design of Mooring System for Oil Storage Vessels

The floating oil storage system has been proposed as a new facility for Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in China. Mooring is one of the key technologies to ensure the safety, reliability, and performance of the oil storage system. This paper describes the concept, analysis, design and reliability of the mooring system. For mooring system design of these oil vessels, analysis is essential of the behavior of the vessel in connection with mooring facilities of nonlinear resilience. A nonlinear mathematical model for analyzing a moored vessel is established and solved. Some results of numerical simulations are presented. Assessment of the safety regarding the mooring system in terms of failure probability is carried out. Another simulation model for calculating the failure probability of the mooring system is proposed. The design parameters that have an influence on the characteristics of the failure probability have been identified. The simulation results show that the mooring system has an annual reliab     

A novel framework for regional collision risk identification based on AIS data

Identification of regional collision risk in water area is of significance for the safety of navigation. However, traditional risk identification models are subject to the limitations in accuracy, short-term identification and traffic characteristics. Herein, a framework was put forward to identify regional collision risk instantaneously based on AIS data. The vessels were clustered by using the spatial clustering method. Afterwards, the framework was divided into two steps. Firstly, collision risk of each cluster was obtained by collision risk and contribution of the vessels within the cluster. An analytical method was adopted to identify collision risk of each vessel from the perspective of vessel pairs. Contribution of each vessel was determined by using improved Shapley value method in game theory. Secondly, regional collision risk was obtained by collision risk and contribution of each cluster. Case studies were carried out based on the AIS data of Northern Yellow Sea in China to validate the validity of the proposed framework. The results show that the proposed framework can effectively identify collision risk in water area, presenting the potential for collision risk monitoring and collision risk analysis of water area.