Navigational Safety Assessment of Ten-Thousand-Ton Vessels in Ship Tunnels by Ship Simulations

Abstract

In implementing ship channels in mountainous rivers with complex topography, navigation safety has become paramount for facilitating efficient tunnel operations. The security of large vessels in tunnels has recently been the focus of a considerable amount of research in the inevitable trend of vessel upsizing. This study analyzes the characteristics of unpowered coasting distance for ten-thousand-ton bulk carriers through ship simulations. The study discovered a positive correlation between coasting length and variables including tunnel width, water depth, and sectional coefficient. Moreover, it explores the maneuvering characteristics throughout the tunnel traversal process. It proposes a vessel-following model based on car-following theory and defines different types of following distances to determine the transportation capacity of the tunnel. The research findings greatly enhance tunnel navigable safety and optimize ship tunnel operations.