Modeling of Long Waves from High Speed Ferries in Coastal Waters

Long waves generated by high-speed vessels have potentially damaging effects on structures in the coastal zone and marine habitats, and may also be a hazard for people exposed to the waves at the coast. Numerical models can be used to locate areas particularly vulnerable to wash from ship wakes. The paper presents simulations using the long wave model COULWAVE for the Tallinn Bay area, where the operation of high-speed ferries is well established. The model is implemented with a resolution of 10 m for the entire bay; an area with an approximate size of 10x20 km. Particular emphasis is placed on the variability in wave amplitude along the coast of the bay. The results show considerable spatial variability in the wave amplitude distribution, due to particular properties of the ship movement, the bathymetry, and the coastline topography.