CAORF Selected For Rotterdam Study

The Port of Rotterdam has selected MarineSafety-CAORF, located at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y., to conduct full mission simulator studies which will help determine entry and shiphandling policies for the Port's new Maasvlakte Harbor basin during two stages of its development.

The real-time, man-in-the-loop simulator tests will cover the maneuvering of various sizes and types of vessels and the degree of tug assistance required.

MarineSafety will develop visual, bank, current, wind and plotting data bases covering two stages of construction. Vessel response models will be prepared and validated for 180,000, 267,000 and 350,000- dwt bulk carriers and for a large, loaded containership. Computer models will also be prepared for moored ships, a crane barge and inland barges.

Simulator tests will include the use of four Voith-Schneider type tugs working on towlines. Three of these tugs will be modeled as independent ownships—this is, each will react to the tow line and other hydrodynamic forces as in real life. During tests, three interactive tugs will provide the required assistance.

A precision wind simulation will be prepared. The wind velocity will be specified by a fine grid of points over the geographic area. This will allow a wind velocity distribution to permit simulation of the effects of varying wind shear along the ship's hull and superstructure. Following validation testing, carefully controlled experiments will be conducted using four interactive simulators at MarineSafety's Newport, R.I., Simulator Center. This is the only visual shiphandling facility in the world that can simulate four manned interactive ownships simultaneously.

During the validation and experimental phases, the four ownships will be operated by masters, pilots and tug captains from the Port of Rotterdam. A final report documenting test methodology, analyses, results and conclusions will be provided to the Port of Rotterdam early in 1991.

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