Software platform for manoeuvrability performance estimation in initial ship design

Abstract

Starting with the initial ship design stage, cost-effectiveness in manoeuvring and course keeping performance is a major objective. In this context, a software platform was developed in the Research Centre of Faculty of Naval Architecture, of “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, in order to evaluate the ship manoeuvring abilities in deep water conditions, the squat in shallow water, the rudder hydrodynamics including the cavitation check and bowthruster powering. The present paper is a synthetical description of the specific methods and computer codes used to solve the manoeuvring problems mentioned above. The software platform PHP-Manoeuvrability is currently being used at the Faculty of Naval Architecture , both for didactical applications and research activities related to the manoeuvring domain.