THE APPLICATION OF MATHEMATICAL MODELS AND BRIDGE SIMULATIONS IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY OF SHIP MANOEUVRING

It is obvious that the development of modern bridge simulators nowadays provides an advanced tool for maritime training. Apart from the educational function, advanced simulators can, with the proper knowledge and tools, be exploited for the feasibility study of ship manoeuvring for existing ports, ships under operation as well as ships, ports and locks in the design phase. Thus, it is necessary to set up proper ship mathematical models and establish a scientific process for assessment of ship manoeuvring in simulators. This paper aims to systematically introduce mathematical modelling and proposes a method to assess the ship manoeuvring in six degrees of freedom and in real-time mode influenced by all possible forces on the vessel. The mathematical model and assessment method were used in applied research projects which have been conducted by the study group during the research period.