Captive manoeuvring model tests provide best quality data for new symmetrical ferry design
Conference/JournalMARIN Report 146
Date20 Jan 2026
Due to the P&O Pioneer class ferry being much larger compared to other ships sailing the same route, and the unusual propulsion and steering configuration, MARIN paid particular attention to handling in the two ports.
To investigate this, MARIN combined the best of experimental and numerical worlds by performing captive manoeuvring experiments to derive high-fidelity simulation models, which are used to carry out manoeuvring predictions and simulator training for the captains. This approach improves design insights, increases training quality and minimises operational risks.
To investigate this, MARIN combined the best of experimental and numerical worlds by performing captive manoeuvring experiments to derive high-fidelity simulation models, which are used to carry out manoeuvring predictions and simulator training for the captains. This approach improves design insights, increases training quality and minimises operational risks.
Contact
Victor Ferrari
senior project manager | team leader
Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin tests
Captive manoeuvring model tests designate the measurement of a ship’s hydrodynamic loads under a broad range of imposed motions in a fully controlled environment. The scale model of the ferry was fixed to the moving carriage of MARIN’s Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin, which imposed predefined motions and actuator controls. While the carriage pulled the ship model along a given track, the manoeuvring loads applied to the ship and its actuators were recorded. To capture these loads, the ship model was heavily instrumented. It featured more than 40 force transducers, a number of potentiometers, servo and electrical motors.
Crabbing model tests in the Shallow Water Basin.
Captive manoeuvring tests in the Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin