1986•Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval ArchitectsRequires access

ANALYSIS OF TOWED VESSEL COURSE STABILITY IN SHALLOW WATER

S. Charters, Giles Thomas, R. Latorre

Abstract

Towed vessels are engaged in many commercial and naval operations where the navigation conditions correspond to shallow water conditions. The present study considers the influence of shallow water on towed vessel course stability for four representative towed vessels. Towing stability in shallow water is studied using the classic linear time-invariant towing theory. This allows the calculation of the critical tow line tension necessary for stable towing. The results of a systematic investigation indicate that shallow water improves the towed vessel course stability and that in the case of the course-unstable towed tanker, extreme shallow water conditions make it course-stable. The influence of towrope length and towing speed are also discussed, and a towing course stability index, K, is introduced.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 6 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

Key concepts: Towing, Waves and shallow water, Course (navigation), Marine engineering, Deep water, Stability (learning theory), Engineering, Tension (geology)