Experimental investigation of ship-bank interaction forces

Abstract

A review of literature on ship-bank interaction is given, with the emphasis on experimental data and empirical formulae. The results of a systematic captive model test program carried out in the Towing Tank for Manoeuvres in Shallow Water (co-operation Flanders Hydraulics - Ghent University) in Antwerp (Belgium) arc used for discussing the influence of the main parameters determining the hydrodynamic forces and moments. The test series were carried out with three ship models in parallel course along a vertical surface-piercing bank with varying water depth, lateral distance, forward speed and propeller rpm. Based on the results and published experimental material, new empirical formulae for predicting ship-bank interaction forces are proposed.