OPTIMIZATION OF PORT MANOEUVRING TECHNIQUES IN THE CONSTANTZA-SOUTH AGIGEA PORT

For at least 15 years, ship handling simulators are used for waterways and terminals design, in order to improve safety of navigation and port manoeuvring activities. For the first time in the Black Sea area, a last generation full mission ship handling simulator will be used in order to optimize the design of the Constantza South-Agigea fairway. This research will be done by the Constantza Maritime University (CMU), the financial support consisting of a two year research grant, financed by the National University Research Council. The proposal for this research topic was submitted by a team of teachers working in the Navigation and Maritime Transport Faculty of CMU, as a consequence of the existing development stages included in the Constantza Port Master Plan. The expansion of the Port of Constantza is financed by the Romanian Government and managed by the Constantza Port Administration (CPA). The paper will present the present research, simulation and test result, undertaken in the second stage of the project, involving simulation of large container ships manoeuvring actions, without tug assistance until approaching the berth.