The Influence of Shallow Waters on the Maneuvering of Large Ships

The increasing demand for goods that can be transported by sea and the reduction in transportation costs have led to a trend toward larger ships. The increase in ship capacity leads to an increase in ship length and, thus, a decrease in transportation costs. The maneuverability of large ships in shallow water when calling at ports is becoming increasingly difficult. This is due to the discrepancy between increasing ship dimensions and unchanged waterway structures such as approach channels, harbors, and ports. The maneuverability of a vessel in shallow waters is different from the maneuverability in deep waters. The reasons for this are due to the shallow water effect. Shallow water affects the maneuverability of ships due to hydrodynamic forces caused by the current, shallower depth under the keel and proximity to the shore. It is a major challenge both for shipbuilders to design such vessels and for shipowners to have trained and well-educated officers who can navigate large vessels in shallow waters. This article presents the effects of shallow waters on large ship maneuvering and mathematical models that have been used to predict ship behavior under the influence of these forces.