Physical Modeling - Ship Motion

Ship response to wave action and mooring line/fender loads is a critical factor in the performance of many harbors and ports. Operational downtime may affect the overall economic performance of these facilities and influence the harbor layout.

Baird has utilized a combination of sophisticated tools to assess this complex issue, including:

• physical models of wave agitation and ship response, including instrumented model ships (for vessel motions, mooring line loads and fender loads);
• numerical models of wave agitation and ship response;
• field measurements of actual ship motions;
• full-scale ship motion simulators to support decisions concerning acceptable limits;
• computer animation of measured and simulated ship motions.

These tools allow for quantification of ship response under the site's environmental conditions. Based on specific performance criteria for different operations, an estimate of operational downtime is produced for a range of harbor and mooring layouts. In addition, information necessary to establish design loads for mooring lines, fenders and structures may be produced.

Baird has extensive experience in complex ship motion modeling, and is very familiar with the tools and techniques available to assess the topic, both numerically and physically. The application of this experience to ship response investigations provides reliable information that allows clients to make decisions that balance capital/investment costs with operational performance and downtime.