Ship manoeuvre analysis and simulation to obtain scouring related propeller variables

Abstract

The evolution of shipping industry in terms of bigger and more powerful ships, is causing several issues in existing ports and marinas designed, initially, to host smaller vessels with smaller propulsion systems and lower drafts, such as harbour basin erosion near quay walls, deposited zones in low frequented areas and reduction of operational areas. Previous studies concluded that main problems come from regular vessels such as ferries, which dock and undock frequently in the same quays performing the same manoeuvres. This contribution deals with a method to reproduce real ship manoeuvres in a full mission ship imulator obtained through Automatic Identification System (AIS) data analysis. A faithful reproduction permits to extract propeller and propulsion variables, which, in turn, allow the study of the scouring action using literature formulae. Results obtained show that AIS data can be used to obtain manoeuvring patterns, allowing the study of the scouring action for every particular case depending on vessel type, manoeuvre or met-ocean conditions.