What does FH investigate?
Accessibility
We have a specialised team that investigates the accessibility of ports and waterways. They study the relationship between the configuration of ports and channels, local hydroand sediment dynamics and the ship’s behaviour while sailing to the ports and on inland waterways.
To improve the accessibility to Flemish and international ports and waterways, we propose solutions, often in international partnerships. These are based on measurement data, simulations and numerical and physical models that allow us to determine flow fields, sediment dynamics and ship behaviour in shallow and confined water.
Our studies influence the design of ports and lock entrances and are an important source of information in terms of the feasibility of ship manoeuvres in ports and waterways. In addition, we investigate and assess the accessibility of existing infrastructure and dimension external resources such as tugboat assistance, fendering and navigational aids. Finally, we determine the focus areas for procedures at critical ship movements. We also advise on optimisation strategies for maintenance dredging of ports and waterways.
Simulators
Our ship simulators provide a detailed analysis of all available information. Furthermore, we determine accessibility limits based on external factors such as wind, currents, presence of banks or structures or the interaction with other ships.
Accessibility is examined by our simulators in real time or fast time (computer-controlled). To conduct realtime simulations of the seagoing vessel, we have ‘full mission’ bridge simulators, the SIM 360+ and SIM 225, including tugboat simulations, which can also be coupled together. They are used for seagoing and inland simulations. We also work with the Lara simulator specifically for inland simulations.
Numerical models and software
We use numerical models of ports and waterways to calculate flow fields and expected dredging issues for actual or fictitious scenarios.
The ProToel (Probabilistisch Toelatingsbeleid) software was developed to predict the admission policy for the Flemish ports and the access channels from the North Sea to the terminals. ProToel allows tidal port calculations to be carried out through both probabilistic criteria (on the basis of a maximum accepted risk of touching bottom) as well as deterministic criteria (on the basis of a fixed minimum keel clearance). Additionally, we analyse ship movements based on Automatic Identification System (AIS) registrations to obtain an overall picture of the traffic on the waterways.
Manoeuvres
Ships are getting bigger and bigger. They operate in waterways whose dimensions have not increased at the same rate. This means that ships have relatively less space to sail in. As a result, their room to manoeuvre is decreasing and their manoeuvrability is more difficult. Flanders Hydraulics focuses on sailing in precisely these difficult circumstances.
We conduct experimental research on the behaviour of ships in shallow and confined water. We carefully examine the manoeuvrability characteristics above a solid or nautical bottom. Flanders Hydraulics identifies the forces that are important for ship manoeuvring simulations including:
- the influence of the proximity of a bank or a quay on the hydrodynamic forces acting on the hull and on the operation of the propulsion, rudder and bow thrusters;
- forces that occur when approaching, entering and leaving locks;
- interaction with other (moored, encountered, overtaken) ships.
In addition, we perform studies on squat effects (steady vertical motions) and the behaviour of vessels in shallow water under the influence of waves.
Scale models
We conduct various tests as scale model studies in our towing tank:
- Computerised Planar Motion Mechanism (CPMM) trials or forced tests to predict ship behaviour in open and calm water as well as in waves;
- forced interaction tests between ships or ships and structures (ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore, ship-tobottom, lock effects, etc.);
- free-sailing tests in which the ship is controlled by an autopilot navigating a trajectory in the towing tank using a steering device (propeller and rudder) .
Calculations and measurements
The calculations of ship hydrodynamics in shallow and confined water are performed using numerical models, including CFD calculations. To obtain acceptable computation times in this complex domain, part of our internal computational cluster is dedicated exclusively to this research. We also carry out measurements on ships and inland vessels as validation for our models.
Knowledge centre 'Manoeuvring in Shallow and Confined Water'
The knowledge centre ‘Manoeuvring in shallow and confined water’ was established in 2008. It aims to gather, expand and promote scientific knowledge and practical experience on the behaviour of ships in shallow and confined water. As such, it provides support for the admission policy and the development of ship waterways to the Flemish ports and inland waterways. The objectives of the knowledge centre are:
- efficient documentation management;
- accurate data management;
- complementary (inter)national cooperation.
The knowledge centre will be further developed in cooperation with Ghent University, section Maritime Technology, and disseminate its knowledge globally through the English website www.shallowwater.be
Conferences
Co-organisor of the international MASHCON conferences
Newsletter:
The knowledge centre distributes a periodical newsletter. This newsletter can be requested by e-mail.
Brochure:
Projects
Applied research
Upgrade Canal to Charleroi (inland)
In 2014 International Marine and Dredging Consultants (IMDC) performed on behalf of the waterway authority: Waterwegen en Zeekanaal NV – Sea Channel Division, a design study to upgrade the Flemish trajectory of the Canal to Charleroi to accessibility of ECMT class IV (85 m x 9.5 m)
Accessibility MSC New York to Berendrecht lock
On 10 December 2014, the MSC New York arrived in the Port of Antwerp. With a length of 399 m and a beam of 54 m, it is the largest ship ever to pass through the Berendrecht lock, which in itself is the largest lock in the world at present.
Development Container Terminal Lomé (Togo)
The Autonomous Port of Lomé in Togo is making a major investment in order to be able to receive Ultra Large Container Ships. In addition to a new dock, a new and deeper nautical access channel is required. Flanders Hydraulics and Ghent University were contacted by the general
Upgrade Seine-Scheldt connection (inland)
The design of waterways has been an omnipresent topic in the research done by Flanders Hydraulics (FH) over the last five years. Concept design guidelines, such as the Dutch guidelines for inland transport, are not always in accordance with actual environmental and economic constraints.
Nautical accessibility port of Delfzijl (NL)
The presence of a mud layer in the port of Delfzijl in the Netherlands implicates a major restriction to the nautical accessibility of the port. At present the maximum drafts for shipping traffic to Delfzijl are limited by a minimum under keel clearance with respect to the top of the mud layer.
Real-time simulations redesign Royers Lock (inland)
The Royers lock connects the river Scheldt to the right bank of the port of Antwerp. The actual lock has a length of 180 m and a width of 22 m.
AIS-analysis
AIS-data (Automatic Identification System) contain ship and voyage information VHF-broadcasted by the vessel by means of standardized binary message structures.
Basic research
ROPES
Captive model tests have been carried out in the towing tank for manoeuvres in shallow water in the framework of ROPES (Research On Passing Effects of Ships).
Study of the Panama Canal
Flanders Hydraulics has performed tank test model studies for vessel manoeuvring in the future Third Set of Locks on the Pacific and Atlantic sides of the Panama Canal to determine design and operational criteria, such as need and configuration of lock approach walls, design criteria for fen
CSL Rhine in proximity of muddy water
After the simulation study it was decided to perform a r
Full scale testing inland vessel Elise
In order to validate the mathematical manoeuvring model of a CEMT-class IV inland vessel derived from comprehensive model test series, FH performed a full scale testing of the inland vessel MT Elise (105 m x 9.5 m x 2.6 m) on the Lys Diversion Canal.
Measurements on a 45 m wide bulk carrier to the Charles de Gaulle lock (Fr)
On the 5th of December 2012 Flanders Hydraulics (FH) performed a survey on the MV Cape Aster (292 m x 45 m x 14.2 m) departing from the Western port of Dunkirk and mooring to the Arcelor Mittal plant in the Eastern port of Dunkirk.
Calculation wind coefficients of mathematical ship models
To improve the mathematical model of the estuary container vessel Tripoli, a new set of wind coefficients was computed using the Computational Fluid Dynamics software FINE™/Marine.
CFD in shallow water
By its international involvements, such as the ITTC and the NATO Science and Technology meetings, Flanders Hydraulics keeps an active interest in the developments that take place within the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) world.