Mooring solutions for long waves & seiching
Mooring Solutions for
long waves & seiching
Dynamic Moored Vessel Analysis
OMC has extensive experience in modelling the motions of moored ships exposed to various environmental conditions, resulting in unparalleled expertise in mooring design and ship motion modelling. OMC developed the numerical model, SPMS (Simulation Package for the Motions of Ships), for the analysis of various problems associated with the motions of vessels, either moored, towed or free moving along channels or in deep water.
Since development, it has been used to solve a wide variety of maritime projects in Australia and overseas. This includes analysis of motions, line tensions and fender forces of major vessel types at a wide variety of berths, including spread moorings, swamp moorings, fendered jetties and single point moorings. The model has also been used for the analysis of the relative motions of a transhipment
The SPMS numerical model includes the capability to model the slow drift oscillations of moored vessels due to long waves (periods greater than 30 seconds), as well as the wave frequency oscillations caused by sea and swell waves. Long period waves can be the most important driving force on moored vessels exposed to ocean swell because they can excite large amplitude, low frequency oscillations of the moored vessel in the horizontal modes of surge, sway and yaw.
Full scale validations can also be performed for moored vessel applications to validate the numerical model predictions.
Passing Vessel Interaction
OMC has extensive experience with passing vessel interactions, and was an Industry partner in the Marin Research Institute Research on Passing Effects on Ships (ROPES) research project.
ROPES was a joint industry project and included development and validation of a computer tool to predict the effect of passing vessels for existing and new port and terminal developments. The project included extensive scale model testing and full scale monitoring campaigns in the Port of Rotterdam. Participants in the project included Ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Amsterdam, ExxonMobil, Cavotec, KRVE, and Deltares. As a partner OMC holds and has full rights to the developed IP which has used to both validate the OMC passing vessel model and to complement it for ongoing projects.
For the numerous passing vessel mooring studies OMC has performed, modelling has been used to determine optimum vessel passing speeds and distances given the prevailing environmental conditions, tidal levels and characteristics of both the moored and passing vessels.
Berth Warning System
In addition to mooring studies, OMC has also developed the Berth Warning System (BWS) to improve port operating safety.
The BWS is a real-time berth warning system designed to provide assistance to terminal operators in making decisions as to the operating safety of berthed vessels. BWS assesses both the vessel motions and the loads placed on moorings, lines and fenders by ocean swells, currents, and wind to provide produce a rating of port operating safety.
The BWS can incorporate wind, wave, and current forecasts from the National Weather Service, or private forecast providers, giving the potential to provide dynamic berth operability forecasts up to a week in advance, improving berth safety and performance.