General information
When towing disabled or non-propelled ships, instabilities in the form of oscillatory yaw motions can occur. The amount of instability is governed by the length of the tow rope, the position of the attachment point, the tow speed and the loading condition of the towed ship.
The tow instabilities can lead to excessive tow line forces, unacceptable deviations from the desired track, danger to other vessels or undesired added resistance of the tow system.
When towing disabled or non-propelled ships, instabilities in the form of oscillatory yaw motions can occur. The amount of instability is governed by the length of the tow rope, the position of the attachment point, the tow speed and the loading condition of the towed ship.
The tow instabilities can lead to excessive tow line forces, unacceptable deviations from the desired track, danger to other vessels or undesired added resistance of the tow system.
Services & Activities
MARIN has ample experience with assessing the tow stability of systems such as semi-submersibles, FPSOs and tankers. The Offshore and Manoeuvring Departments assist in conducting model tests in which the motions of the towed vessel and the tow line loads are measured. Similar measurements on full scale are conducted by our Trials and Monitoring department. If needed, advice is given regarding possible improvements in the design or loading condition and if desired, the impact of these changes on the tow stability is demonstrated.
MARIN has ample experience with assessing the tow stability of systems such as semi-submersibles, FPSOs and tankers. The Offshore and Manoeuvring Departments assist in conducting model tests in which the motions of the towed vessel and the tow line loads are measured. Similar measurements on full scale are conducted by our Trials and Monitoring department. If needed, advice is given regarding possible improvements in the design or loading condition and if desired, the impact of these changes on the tow stability is demonstrated.
Facilities & Tools
Towing stability studies are carried out in the following MARIN facilities:
Towing stability studies are carried out in the following MARIN facilities:
- Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin: tow stability in calm water or (oblique) waves in deep water
- Offshore Basin: tow stability in calm water or (oblique) waves in variable water depth
- Shallow Water Basin: tow stability in calm water or (head or stern) waves in shallow water
- Deep Water Basin: tow stability in deep calm water
The following tools are used to study towing stability issues:
CRABSIM: Calculation of harbour manoeuvres
FREDYN: Seakeeping and Manoeuvring behaviour of ships in wind and waves
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 towing stability projects carried out at MARIN:
The list below gives a review of towing stability projects carried out at MARIN:
- Agbami FPSO (SBM IMODCO), 2005
- Greater Plutonio FPSO (Hyundai), 2004
- Corocoro FSO (Samsung), 2003
- EHRA FPSO towing tests (Bouyges), 2002
- Bonga FPSO (Shell), 2000-2001
- Laminaria FPSO (Woodside), 1998
Most recent towing stability papers presented by MARIN
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of papers can be found under Publications)
Recent Developments in the Towing of Very Long Pipeline Bundles Using the CDTM Method
Albertus Dercksen (MARIN) and Taco Taconis (Rockwater), Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston, 1993
Albertus Dercksen (MARIN) and Taco Taconis (Rockwater), Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston, 1993
Most recent towing stability articles written for MARIN Report
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
(complete overview of articles can be found under Publications)
MARIN set to open its new Depressurised Wave Basin
MARIN Report, 2011
Floating pipe spiralling provides alternative to pipelaying vessels
Pieter Aalberts, MARIN Report, 2008
West of Africa FPSOs: a straight course to a reliable mooring
Bas Buchner, MARIN Report, 2006
Deepwater exploration and production solutions
Bas Buchner, MARIN Report, 2001
MARIN Report, 2011
Floating pipe spiralling provides alternative to pipelaying vessels
Pieter Aalberts, MARIN Report, 2008
West of Africa FPSOs: a straight course to a reliable mooring
Bas Buchner, MARIN Report, 2006
Deepwater exploration and production solutions
Bas Buchner, MARIN Report, 2001
Contact
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with towing stability, please contact the Offshore or Manoeuvring Departments.
For full-scale measurements, please contact the Trials & Monitoring Department.
For more information on how MARIN can help your organisation with towing stability, please contact the Offshore or Manoeuvring Departments.
For full-scale measurements, please contact the Trials & Monitoring Department.