Manoeuvrability and course stability of the kite towed ship under influence of the external factors

Our paper aims to bring to the fore once again the need to reduce air pollution, especially due to the marine propulsion engines. The ship's kite propulsion is one of the non-conventional methods. Recent reaches and trails certified that part of the necessary power for propulsion is covered by kite traction power. To analyze the extra power given by the kite and the way this influences the manoeuvre capacity and course stability we used the navigation simulator. In order to determine the practical value of the forces developed by the kite, in the calculations, we used the characteristics of the aerodynamic profile G-417a, which is similar to the profile of the chosen kite. After the simulations made in different wind conditions and speed regimes, a series of conclusions can be drawn on the behavior of a ship powered by the mixed engine-kite system, conclusions which can be used as a starting point for research on unconventional propulsion using the kite.