Numerical prediction of hydrodynamic forces on a berthed ship induced by a passing ship in different waterway geometries

An investigation has been conducted to quantify the effect of waterway geometry on the form and magnitude of forces and moment experienced by a berthed ship due to a passing ship. By using the dynamic mesh technique and solving the unsteady RANS equations in conjunction with a RNG k-ε turbulence model, numerical simulation of the three-dimensional unsteady viscous flow around a passing ship and a berthed ship in different waterway geometries is conducted, and the hydrodynamic forces and moment acting on the berthed ship are calculated. The proposed method is verified by comparing the numerical results with existing empirical curves and a selection of results from model scale experiments. The calculated interaction forces and moment are presented for six different waterway geometries. The magnitude of the peak values and the form of the forces and moment on the berthed ship for different cases are investigated to assess the effect of the waterway geometry. The results of present study can provide certain guidance on safe maneuvering of a ship passing by a berthed ship.