General information
The steering ability of a ship at transit concerns the course keeping ability and the turning ability of the ship. These capabilities are in general tradeoffs between good course keeping ability and course stability and between turning ability, resulting in small turning diameters. A good course keeping ability is desired to reduce the use of the steering system during transit and a small turning circle is desired to avoid obstacles in emergency situations and to rapidly manoeuvre in fairways or approach harbours.
The steering ability of a ship at transit concerns the course keeping ability and the turning ability of the ship. These capabilities are in general tradeoffs between good course keeping ability and course stability and between turning ability, resulting in small turning diameters. A good course keeping ability is desired to reduce the use of the steering system during transit and a small turning circle is desired to avoid obstacles in emergency situations and to rapidly manoeuvre in fairways or approach harbours.
Service & Activities
To arrive at the desired manoeuvring performance, a proper selection of the steering system and other appendages arrangement is to be made. For example, a small turning circle can be obtained by applying large rudders and by reducting the directional stability of the ship by reducing the (centreline) skeg(s). To obtain good course stability characteristics, ample directional stability is required, resulting in an appropriately sized centreline skeg. Also the position of the centre of gravity plays an important role in the course stability and turning ability of the ship.
Prior to physical model testing or ship construction, MARIN can assist in the proper selection of the appropriate steering system (such as rudders, thrusters, pods, waterjets) and appendage arrangement based on our ample experience and our large database with manoeuvring characteristics. After the selection of the steering system, simulations or model tests can be performed to assess the manoeuvrability (using either standard or dedicated manoeuvres) of the ship and verify compliance with the requirements.
Additionally, dedicated nautical operations can be simulated using our full-mission simulators or fast-time manoeuvring simulation programs, resulting in a sound judgement of the applicability of the design to the intended operation.
The Trials & Monitoring Department can be involved in full-scale measurements to assess the steering ability.
To arrive at the desired manoeuvring performance, a proper selection of the steering system and other appendages arrangement is to be made. For example, a small turning circle can be obtained by applying large rudders and by reducting the directional stability of the ship by reducing the (centreline) skeg(s). To obtain good course stability characteristics, ample directional stability is required, resulting in an appropriately sized centreline skeg. Also the position of the centre of gravity plays an important role in the course stability and turning ability of the ship.
Prior to physical model testing or ship construction, MARIN can assist in the proper selection of the appropriate steering system (such as rudders, thrusters, pods, waterjets) and appendage arrangement based on our ample experience and our large database with manoeuvring characteristics. After the selection of the steering system, simulations or model tests can be performed to assess the manoeuvrability (using either standard or dedicated manoeuvres) of the ship and verify compliance with the requirements.
Additionally, dedicated nautical operations can be simulated using our full-mission simulators or fast-time manoeuvring simulation programs, resulting in a sound judgement of the applicability of the design to the intended operation.
The Trials & Monitoring Department can be involved in full-scale measurements to assess the steering ability.
Facilities & Tools
Steering ability studies are carried out in the following MARIN facilities:
Steering ability studies are carried out in the following MARIN facilities:
- Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin: steering ability in deep water with/without waves
- Offshore Basin: steering ability in variable water depth
- Shallow Water Basin: manoeuvring and crabbing performance in shallow water
- Deep Water Basin: captive tests in deep water to obtain derivatives for steering ability simulation
- Full-mission simulator: assessment of nautical operation with focus on the steering ability of the ship
The following tools are used to study steering ability issues:
CRABSIM: Calculation of harbour manoeuvres
BOTHRUS: Bow thruster forces for manoeuvring
DPCAP: Analysis of thruster capacity in dynamic positioning
SURSIM: Calculation of ship manoeuvres
FreSim: Calculation of ship manoeuvres
RAPID: Calculation of wave resistance and potential flow
PARNASSOS: Calculation of the viscous flow around ships hulls
DPSIM: Low frequency motion simulation of moored and DP vessels
SHIPMA: Simulation of ships in ports or fairways (pdf)
MPP: Manoeuvring Prediction Program
FREDYN: Seakeeping and Manoeuvring behaviour of ships in wind and waves
BOTHRUS: Bow thruster forces for manoeuvring
DPCAP: Analysis of thruster capacity in dynamic positioning
SURSIM: Calculation of ship manoeuvres
FreSim: Calculation of ship manoeuvres
RAPID: Calculation of wave resistance and potential flow
PARNASSOS: Calculation of the viscous flow around ships hulls
DPSIM: Low frequency motion simulation of moored and DP vessels
SHIPMA: Simulation of ships in ports or fairways (pdf)
MPP: Manoeuvring Prediction Program
FREDYN: Seakeeping and Manoeuvring behaviour of ships in wind and waves
Software Sales
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Some software tools are available for commercial use outside MARIN. A complete overview of these software tools for sale can be found under Software Sales.
Experience
The list below gives a review of types of steering ability projects carried out at MARIN:
The list below gives a review of types of steering ability projects carried out at MARIN:
- Verification of compliance with IMO manoeuvring criteria
- Demonstration of manoeuvring capability during special manoeuvres, e.g. man-overboard or U-turn manoeuvres
- Estimation of added power requirements due to steering action
Most recent steering ability papers presented by MARIN
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
Course Keeping of High Speed Craft in Stern Quartering Seas
Quadvlieg, F.H.H.A., Walree, F. van, Keuning, J.A. and Stambaugh, K., ASNE High Performance Marine Vehicles Symposium, Linthicum, MD, 2009
A Tighter Watch Circle at Higher Speeds
Hughes, G., Harris, R. and Quadvlieg, F.H.H.A., Dynamic Positioning Conference, Houston, 2008
Computational Predictions vs. Model Testing for a High Speed Vessel with Lifting Bodies
Hackett, J.P., Calix St. Pierre, J., Bigler, C., Peltzer, T.J., Quadvlieg, F.H.H.A. and Walree, F. van, SNAME Maritime Technology Conference & Expo and Ship Production Symposium, 2007
Controllability of high-speed craft
Calix St. Pierre, J., Hackett, J.P., Bigler, C. and Quadvlieg, F.H.H.A., PRADS 2007 10th International Symposium on Practical Design of Ships and Other Floating Structures, 2007
Hydrodynamic aspects of interest for the development of an integrated ride control system for high speed mono hulls
Jurgens, A.J. and Walree, F. van, FAST 2003 The 7th International Conference on Fast Sea Transportation, 2003
Quadvlieg, F.H.H.A., Walree, F. van, Keuning, J.A. and Stambaugh, K., ASNE High Performance Marine Vehicles Symposium, Linthicum, MD, 2009
A Tighter Watch Circle at Higher Speeds
Hughes, G., Harris, R. and Quadvlieg, F.H.H.A., Dynamic Positioning Conference, Houston, 2008
Computational Predictions vs. Model Testing for a High Speed Vessel with Lifting Bodies
Hackett, J.P., Calix St. Pierre, J., Bigler, C., Peltzer, T.J., Quadvlieg, F.H.H.A. and Walree, F. van, SNAME Maritime Technology Conference & Expo and Ship Production Symposium, 2007
Controllability of high-speed craft
Calix St. Pierre, J., Hackett, J.P., Bigler, C. and Quadvlieg, F.H.H.A., PRADS 2007 10th International Symposium on Practical Design of Ships and Other Floating Structures, 2007
Hydrodynamic aspects of interest for the development of an integrated ride control system for high speed mono hulls
Jurgens, A.J. and Walree, F. van, FAST 2003 The 7th International Conference on Fast Sea Transportation, 2003
Most recent steering ability articles written for MARIN Report
(complete overview of articles can be found under publications)
(complete overview of articles can be found under publications)
Measuring success
MARIN Report, 2009
Oasis of the Seas
Giedo Loeff, Jaap van Heerd & Reint Dallinga, MARIN report, 2009
MARIN plays key role in design of booming LNG fleet
Frans Quadvlieg, Henk Valkhof & Reint Dallinga, MARIN Report, 2003
SWATH comes under scrutiny
Reint Dallinga & Frans Quadvlieg, MARIN Report, 2001
MARIN Report, 2009
Oasis of the Seas
Giedo Loeff, Jaap van Heerd & Reint Dallinga, MARIN report, 2009
MARIN plays key role in design of booming LNG fleet
Frans Quadvlieg, Henk Valkhof & Reint Dallinga, MARIN Report, 2003
SWATH comes under scrutiny
Reint Dallinga & Frans Quadvlieg, MARIN Report, 2001
Contact
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with steering ability issues, please contact the Manoeuvring & Seakeeping Department.
For full-scale measurements, please contact the Trials & Monitoring Department.
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with steering ability issues, please contact the Manoeuvring & Seakeeping Department.
For full-scale measurements, please contact the Trials & Monitoring Department.