KNVTS lecture: Manoeuvring large ships in small waterways

Manoeuvring in shallow and confined water is a major challenge, both for the largest container ships in our ports and access channels, and for inland vessels on inland waterways. The hydrodynamic forces change significantly when the keel clearance and the water section decrease. Correctly estimating this effect is crucial for the design and use of both waterways and vessels. Several case studies are presented, such as the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal, the Western Scheldt and application in autonomous and green shipping. Ship-bank, ship-bottom and ship-ship interaction form the common thread within these studies. Modelling these effects, by means of towing tank tests, CFD and/or a hybrid solution, is the core expertise of Flanders Hydraulics. In order to provide an answer to the increasingly larger ships visiting our ports and the stricter requirements for sustainable shipping, a second towing tank is being put into use, where shallow water effects can be studied on a larger scale.

Speaker: Thibaut van Zwijnsvoorde, Flanders Hydraulics

Language: English