Experimental determination and modelling of restricted water effects on bulkcarriers

Systematic captive motion tests on scale models of Panamax bulkcarriers of three different sizes were performed for open shallow water at 10% under keel clearance, in a trapezoidal standard cross section of a canal with 27% blockage and in a scale model of a canal with varying width. Forces were measured and modelled. A technique of validation of the models by multi-harmonic test runs was developed. The models were used for an evaluation of the influence of ship length by fast-time simulation.