SHIP-NAVIGATOR

For the nautical assessment and optimisation of designs Alkyon Hydraulic Consultancy & Research has available the computer program SHIP-NAVIGATOR. This is a tool capable of simulating ship manoeuvres in real-time as well as faster than real-time. Also it is possible to exercise the controls manually as well as through a pilot-emulator. The pilot-emulator steers the ship in a human-like fashion along a pre-determined track and controls engine, rudder and assisting tugs. With these possibilities the model allows for both a fast analysis of a large number of design alternatives as well as for a detailed analysis of berthing and de-berthing procedures.

SHIP-NAVIGATOR models effects of:

• ship manoeuvring characteristics depending on hull form, rudder, propulsion, thrusters etc;
• environmental effects such as water depth, wind, waves and current (location and time dependent);
• assistance of tugs based on realistic tug capabilities;
• berthing and de-berthing including fender force reaction.

The results are presented in the form of track-plots and plots of parameters such as speed, rate-of-turn, engine settings, tug usage and any other parameters relevant to the particular study.

The results are used to evaluate accurately, cost-effectively and in a short period of time the downtime and safe manoeuvring conditions for many design alternatives and thus facilitate an optimal design choice.

Special features

Nowadays the construction of terminals is realised at locations of increasingly difficult environmental conditions. Therefore, SHIP-NAVIGATOR has been designed such that it allows for accurate close-quarter manoeuvring characteristics and possibilities. Better than most other fast-time simulators it allows for the following features:

• It models the actual characteristics of rudder and propeller with detailed modelling of the interaction between rudder, propeller and hull. Thus realistic ship manoeuvring is possible in all modes of operation (manoeuvring ahead, astern, sideways, accelerating, stopping, being towed or pushed);
• The multibody version of SHIP-NAVIGATOR models independantly manoeuvring objects;
• It is possible to adjust propeller pitch and also the use of double rudder/propeller-ships is possible with individual or combined control of propellers and rudders;
• It has a detailed tug modelling with towing and pushing possibility; control of their towing-line length, towing position and towing angle; tug effectiveness is restricted depending on the speed and relative direction of the tow, of the tugs own speed and of the waves at the tug location;
• Ship and tugs may be handled both manually (interactive) by the user as by a pilot-emulator tool;
• Close quarter manoeuvring is facilitated for the user with a user-friendly control panel for ship and tug control and with real-time birds-eye-view colour-visualisation of the ship, the tugs and the surroundings (coast, channel, manoeuvring aids, harbour, berths). Also the time-scale is adjustable. The control panel can be displayed on a separate visual display unit using a special graphics board;
• For debriefing purposes it is possible to replay an earlier executed run.

Additional information:

• Brochure of SHIP-NAVIGATOR;
• Demo of SHIP-NAVIGATOR;
• Paper of multibody application;
• Animations.

© 2001Alkyon Hydraulic Consultancy & Research, The Netherlands.