Want to get a feel for how ship stability works, but without doing all the complex calculations? Play the online free ship stability game developed by a maritime research group together with the game design department of Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz (MIWB)/NHL Stenden.
The subject of ship stability has been taught for generations, but the question is whether current teaching resources are still effective for the new generation of students. Classical textbooks often contain historical stability calculations that are intensive and nowadays performed on computers, making the need for such resources obsolete. Yet, they still play a role in many textbooks, limiting the view of the physics behind ship stability.
That is why the educational ship stability game has been developed, supported by the Verolme Trust. This game shows the behaviour of a ship under different conditions and loads, revealing basic stability parameters such as draught, trim, heel, centre of gravity and centre of pressure.
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Basic sense of stability
The aim is to develop a basic sense of stability before dealing with formulas and calculations. The game does not focus on the inclusion of old tools, but allows for future additions such as damage stability or behaviour in seaway, depending on student and teacher interest. Comments are therefore highly appreciated.
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