Assessment of the uncertainty in visual observations of wave height

Visual observations of wave height are still the main source of statistical information available for the prediction of extreme wave conditions to be used in the design of ship structures. However, the observations need to be calibrated with measurements. This work examines previous calibration studies and after joining the old with more recent data sets a reanalysis of the complete data sets is performed leading to updated regression equations.     

Phase Corrections of Small-Loop HF Radar System Receive Arrays With Ships of Opportunity

This paper is an extension of other work that addresses the use of radar echoes from ships of opportunity to determine the proper phase corrections for small-loop phased-array antennas used within high-frequency (HF) ground-wave radar systems. This technique also yields estimates for unknown ship bearings that (for cases where there is adequate signal-to-noise ratio of 20 dB or more) are consistent to within 2deg-3deg among measurements from independent radar frequencies. Within this paper, phase corrections gathered from actual ships of opportunity are compared to phase corrections gathered during a calibrated transponder run, in which the ship bearing is known. The phase corrections derived from the ship of opportunity presented in this paper were consistent with the known phase corrections to within 13.2deg (for the worst case). Furthermore, the estimates of the ship bearings collected from the two usable radar frequencies were consistent to within 1deg of each other     

Doppler-shift approximations of encountered wave statistics

In this paper the joint density of waveheight and half-wavelength is considered for waves observed at a fixed time point and encountering waves that are overtaking a ship from behind. The densities for these two cases are related by a Doppler shift, expressed in terms of the relative velocity of the waves and the ship. Based on this observation, an approximation of the encountered density is proposed. This approximation is then investigated for a Gaussian sea having a Pierson–Moskowitz spectrum.     

Seakeeping of two ships in close proximity

Underway replenishment is an essential component of long-term naval operations. During underway replenishment, two ships travel in close proximity at moderate forward speed. This paper examines the hydrodynamic interactions that can influence seakeeping during such operations. Presented numerical predictions include the influence of interaction effects on hydrodynamic forces for two ships in waves. A scarcity of validation material for numerical predictions prompted new towing tank experiments for two ships in waves. The experiments used semi-captive models, and the numerical code was modified to include restraining forces for specified modes. The numerical predictions and experiments show that the presence of a larger ship can significantly influence the motions of a smaller ship in close proximity.     

Model test and simulation of a ship with wavefoils

The paper describes model tests of a tanker with two fixed bow-mounted foils (wavefoils), for resistance and motion reduction in waves. Measured ship resistance, wavefoil thrust and ship motions were compared with time-domain simulations. The wavefoil forces were calculated using a slightly modified Leishman–Beddoes dynamic stall model, with a two-way coupling to the ship motions. In typical sea states in head seas, employing the wavefoils reduced ship resistance by 9–17%, according to scaled model test resistance. Heave and pitch were reduced by −11% to 32% and 11% to 25%, respectively. The foils affect the flow around the hull. This should be considered when selecting the wavefoil location in the design process.     

On the Use of HF Surface Wave Radar in Congested Waters: Influence of Masking Effect on Detection of Small Ships

In this paper, we assess the capability of a high-frequency surface wave radar (HFSWR) to detect a small fast boat moving behind a ship, the dimensions of which are comparable to the wavelength. We show that, in the HF-band, the scattered field in the shadow region of the large ship is significant enough to induce strong coupling between the two vessels. This results in fluctuations in the radar cross section (RCS) values of the small boat of about 12 dB at 10 MHz, for instance. We also introduce a complete simulation tool to account for the environment and, thus, to be able to simulate real scenes. We have validated these results through anechoic chamber measurements, with two different masking vessels and three different masked ships. The measurements have shown both the low-attenuation results and the RCS fluctuations     

Validation of ship manoeuvring models using metamodels

This paper describes how simplified auxiliary models—metamodels—can be used to create benchmarks for validating ship manoeuvring simulation models. A metamodel represents ship performance for a limited range of parameters, such as rudder angles and surge velocity. In contrast to traditional system identification methods, metamodels are identified from multiple trial recordings, each containing data on the ship’s inherent dynamics (similar for all trials) and random disturbances such as environmental effects and slightly different loading conditions. Thus, metamodels can be used to obtain these essential data, where simple averaging is not possible. In addition, metamodels are used to represent a ship’s behaviour and not to obtain physical insights into ship dynamics. The experimental trials used for the identification of metamodels can be found in in-service recorded data. After the metamodel is identified, it is used to simulate trials without substantial deviations from the ship state parameters used for the identification. Subsequently, the predictions of the metamodels are compared with the predictions of a tested manoeuvring simulation model. We present two case studies to demonstrate the application of metamodels for moderate turning motions of two ships.     

Study on the Configuration of Towed Flexible Cables

Based on the fundamental equation of flexible cable dynamics for a towed system, an easily solved mathematical model is set up in this paper by means of appropriate simplification. Several regular patterns of spatial motion of towed flexible cables in water are obtained through numerical simulation with the finite difference method, and then modification and verification by trial results at sea. A technical support is provided for the towing ship to maneuver properly when a flexible cable is towed. Furthermore, the relations between two towed flexible cables, which are towed simultaneously by a ship, are investigated. The results show that the ship towing two flexible cables is safe under the suggested arrangement of two winches for the towing system, and the coiling/uncoiling sequences of the cables as well as the suggested way of maneuvering.     

Numerical analysis on ship maneuvering coupled with ship motion in waves

This paper considers a numerical analysis of ship maneuvering performance in the presence of incident waves and resultant ship motion responses. To this end, a time-domain ship motion program is developed to solve the wave–body interaction problem with the ship slip speed and rotation, and it is coupled with a modular-type 4-DOF maneuvering problem. In this coupled problem, the second-order mean drift force, which can play an important role in the ship maneuvering trajectory, is estimated by using a direct pressure integration method. The developed method is validated by observing the second-order mean drift force, and planar trajectories in maneuvering tests with and without the presence of incident waves. The comparisons are made for two ship models, Series 60 with block coefficient 0.7 and the S-175 containership, with existing experimental data. The maneuvering tests observed in this study include a zig-zag test in calm water, and turning tests in calm water and in regular waves. The present results show a fair agreement of overall tendency in maneuvering trajectories.     

Study on the New Methods of Ship Object Detection Based on GNSS Reflection

This paper presents a study on the new methods of ship object detection based on GPS-R correlation power spectra. Both the principle and the algorithms for recognition are given in detail. The architecture of Doppler Delay Mapping Receiver (DDMR), signal-processing chain, and correlation power spectra discriminant of the reflected signals from the ship object are discussed. Real-time data collection campaigns were done near the sea at Sanya with the Doppler delay mapping receiver mounted on an airplane. Some preliminary experiment results show that the DDMR could work well and can be used in ship object detecting.     

The influence of some ship parameters on manoeuvrability studied at the design stage

Collision and grounding are the most common accidents in ship operation. Some accidents are due to human failure, but several research projects have shown that a high percentage of these accidents could have been avoided if the ship have had better manoeuvrability characteristics. This paper describes how, when the shipyard select some important ship parameters and dimensions at the design stage, these set of parameters influence manoeuvrability characteristics. To obtain these effects, some IMO manoeuvres have been numerically simulated for a sample ship and a non-linear numerical model proposed by the authors to study ship manoeuvrability is described in this work. The day to day practice of a shipyard where fast modelisation and calculations are required, and modifications to the original design are quite common at the preliminary design stage, requires fast but accurate numerical models.     

Study on submarine cable tension during laying

In order to design submarine optical-fiber cable, it is very important to clarify the cable tension and fiber elongation during laying because the fiber elongation allowance is very small. When submarine cable is being laid from a cable ship, cable weight in water plus such additional tension as bottom tension caused by the negative slack and tension due to ship motion work upon the cable [1]. Cable tension changes during laying were theoretically studied. This paper quantitatively clarifies bottom tension dependence at the touchdown point caused by the negative slack upon both water depth and ship velocity. It is shown that the shallower the water depth is and the faster the ship velocity is, the larger the bottom tension is. The theoretical bottom tension showed good agreement with the experimental value measured during sea trials on laying submarine optical-fiber cable [2], [3]. This paper also describes the correlation between cable, ship motion, and cable tension vibration by examining experimental results. It quantitatively clarifies the tension vibration magnitude.     

The development of ship registration policy in China: Response to flags of convenience

In order to expand registered fleet tonnage and strengthen ship management, China began to introduce a special tax-free ship registration (STFSR) policy in July 2007. However, more than eight years following its implementation, the policy ended in complete failure at the end of 2015. This paper comprehensively evaluates the main content and implementation process of the Chinese STFSR policy, analyzes the effects of the policy, and summarizes the concrete reasons for the policy's failure and lessons to be learnt. A new governance framework is being designed and future directions are being developed to explore how the government can implement a successful ship registry policy. This research is intended to provide new ideas and information to the Chinese shipping industry's policymakers and stakeholders in order to handle the “flagging out” problem, thereby mitigating the current adverse situation of ship flagging overseas while strengthening the management of ship operation.     

A 3D fully coupled analysis of nonlinear sloshing and ship motion

This study investigates the coupling effects of six degrees of freedom in ship motion with fluid oscillation inside a three-dimensional rectangular container using a novel time domain simulation scheme. During the time marching, the tank-sloshing algorithm is coupled with the vessel-motion algorithm so that the influence of tank sloshing on vessel motions and vice versa can be assessed. Several factors influencing the dynamic behavior of tank–liquid system due to moving ship are also investigated. These factors include container parameters, environmental settings such as the significant wave height, current velocity as well as the direction of wind, wave and flow current acting on the ship. The nonlinear sloshing is studied using a finite element model whereas nonlinear ship motion is simulated using a hybrid marine control system. Computed roll response is compared with the existing results, showing fair agreement. Although the two hull forms and the sea states are not identical, the numerical result shows the same trend of the roll motion when the anti-rolling tanks are considered. Thus, the numerical approach presented in this paper is expected to be very useful and realistic in evaluating the coupling effects of nonlinear sloshing and 6-DOF ship motion.     

导管架下水过程中浮力及浮心精确计算

在导管架下水运动过程中,其组成杆元相对于海平面的位置复杂多样。在导管架下水参数计算和仿真时,为了计算导管架的浮力和浮心,经常采用估算的方法,由于误差比较大而影响了计算和仿真的精度。分析了导管架下水运动过程中杆元的各种状态,用解析的方法推导出导管架下水运动过程中的浮力和浮心的精确计算公式,提高了导管架下水参数计算及其模拟的精度。     

Multi-Innovation Gradient Iterative Locally Weighted Learning Identification for A Nonlinear Ship Maneuvering System

This paper explores a highly accurate identification modeling approach for the ship maneuvering motion with fullscale trial. A multi-innovation gradient iterative (MIGI) approach is proposed to optimize the distance metric of locally weighted learning (LWL), and a novel non-parametric modeling technique is developed for a nonlinear ship maneuvering system. This proposed method's advantages are as follows: first, it can avoid the unmodeled dynamics and multicollinearity inherent to the conventional parametric model; second, it eliminates the over-learning or underlearning and obtains the optimal distance metric; and third, the MIGI is not sensitive to the initial parameter value and requires less time during the training phase. These advantages result in a highly accurate mathematical modeling technique that can be conveniently implemented in applications. To verify the characteristics of this mathematical model, two examples are used as the model platforms to study the ship maneuvering.     

科考船多波束导流罩优化设计

针对已建成科考船加装中水多波束的实际技术需求,结合中水多波束加装科考船的船舶线型及其系统安装要求,通过设计两种不同类型的导流罩线型,并与船体线型一体化进行计算流体动力学(Computational Fluid Dynamics,以下简称CFD)仿真分析,了解实船舶航行过程中船体型线和导流罩型线之间的相互影响,分别对圆弧型导流罩和折角型导流罩的防气泡性能和阻力性能进行了CFD预报和分析。最后经海试验证折角型导流罩能够完全满足中水多波束的安装线型流线及湍流动能的性能指标,为科考船多波束导流罩的设计安装或加装提供一定的借鉴和参考作用。     

A decision-making system to maritime risk assessment

In this study, we propose a fuzzy approach in order to evaluate the maritime risk assessment applied to safety at sea and more particularly, the pollution prevention on the open sea. The work is based on the decision-making system, named MARISA, presented in Balmat et al. (2009). This system allowed defining a risk factor for each ship according to ship’s characteristics and weather conditions. In this novel paper, the proposed system takes into account the ship speed evolution and the ship position with respect to maritime shipping lanes is developed. To validate the method, we present an example of results with real data.     

港口内靠码头系泊船运动的计算

本文以英国南海岸处Ｓｈｏｒｅｈａｍ港内系泊船为例，研究了港口内靠码头系泊船运动的数值计算问题。该船的实船实验和模型实验已经完成，为验证本文计算结果提供了依据。运动方程在时域内求解。在计算船体脉冲响应函数时，引入了船体阻尼系数在频率很低时的渐近表达式和一迭代算法。分析了港内共振波浪和其对船体的作用力。讨论了靠码头系泊船运动的非线性特征。计算结果与实验结果符合很好。     

An Experimental Investigation on the Dynamic Response of a Damaged Ship with a realistic arrangement of the flooded compartment

The dynamics of a damaged ship in waves is a complex phenomenon regarding fluid and structure interactions. Flooded water motions in the damaged compartment could be influenced by decks, obstructions and obstacles in the compartment. This becomes particularly relevant in case of flooding in the engine room that is usually characterized by the presence of large objects such as engines and machineries. In such cases the possibility to better understand the behavior of a damaged ship, influenced by the fluid and structure interactions, could provide novel outcomes and thus enhance the damaged ship safety.In this paper an experimental campaign is conducted on a passenger ferry hull. The effects of obstacles in the engine room compartment, such as decks and engines, on ship roll responses, are studied. Roll decay in still water and steady roll responses in beam regular waves at zero speed are measured for the empty compartment and for the compartment with obstructions, as defined above.The main outcomes from the conducted experiments disclose a mitigation of the resonant behavior of the coupled system, ship with damaged compartment, by having engine shapes occupying the flooded engine room. Moreover it is possible to observe how the resonant frequency of the ship modifies having a more realistic arrangement of damaged compartment and how motion RAOs and roll decay characteristics modify accordingly.