Evaluation of Safety of Navigation in Muddy Areas through Real-Time Maneuvering Simulation

Abstract

A ship maneuvering simulator is a valuable tool for evaluating conditions that may be considered as critical from a nautical point of view. The full mission bridge simulation study described in this paper has been performed to assess the maneuvering behavior of large container vessels in navigation areas with bottoms covered with fluid mud deposits. The input for the simulator consisted of a mathematical model based on results of extensive captive model test series. The presented qualitative and quantitative analysis of the simulation runs provides a solid basis for an advice for a new definition of the nautical bottom in the harbor of Zeebrugge, which fully takes into account all significant effects on ship controllability.