Dynamic Ship Behaviour

Although ships are designed and built to sail, during their useful life, they spend a high percentage of their time at anchor or moored at docks, carrying out loading and unloading operations. Port operating costs constitute a significant portion of their operating costs, hence the importance of detailed knowledge of the behavior of the moored vessel.

The efficiency of loading and unloading operations and the safety of both the vessel and port facilities depend largely on minimizing movements while at berth, as the vessel is subject to the influence of weather conditions (waves, wind, currents, tides, etc.).

Importance of projects for port development

Every port infrastructure project requires defining the most appropriate berthing equipment (fenders) and mooring equipment (bollards or quick-release hooks) for the fleet of vessels using the facility, as well as defining the loading and unloading methods, which may affect the vessel’s positioning within the facility. Therefore, geometric compatibility analyses and moored vessel studies are of vital importance during project drafting.

These studies are even more relevant when, already in the operational phase, vessels other than those initially planned will be operating in existing facilities not specifically designed for them. The purpose of these studies is always to detect and resolve compatibility issues that may arise in advance, as well as to determine the expected operating and permanence limits.

What other factors are important for ship mooring?

Likewise, when port traffic during transit to other terminals is expected to significantly affect moored vessels, both due to the waves generated and suction effects, it is important to analyze the movements that this traffic may cause as it passes over moored vessels. These movements can endanger operations or even the integrity of the vessel while berthing (passing-ships effect). These studies make it possible to identify and share with all stakeholders involved: operators, port managers, and those responsible for navigation and maritime safety regulations, the maritime conditions (distances/speeds) to be respected.

Equally interesting is the measurement of the actual movements of moored or anchored vessels, not only to calibrate numerical models for dynamic mooring analysis in complex cases, but also as a support for monitoring and understanding optimal mooring conditions. Sensorization of port facilities (ship movements, mooring lines and fenders, meteorological variables, etc.) is the first step toward achieving the modernization and modernization necessary for smart port infrastructures. New technologies allow the processing of massive amounts of recorded data using big data analytics techniques. This, together with AI and advances in connectivity, is already enabling very positive results in terms of improving the safety and efficiency of vessels and port operations, necessary to guarantee a sustainable future.