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). ROPES is a joint industry project aiming at providing the partners involved with software to compute the forces induced by a passing vessel on moored vessels. Both Flanders Hydraulics and Ghent University – Division of Maritime Technology joined the project and report to the Antwerp Port Authority as the industrial partner in the project. The Antwerp Port Authority requested that the software would take account of specific situations in the harbour of Antwerp. A first request was to model the traffic in the Deurganck dock and the (yet to be built) Saeftinge dock where large sailing container carriers interact with equally large moored container carriers. A second request was to study the setup of jetties on the river banks and in the docks to moor tankers that also will be affected by the passing ships. A third request was to study the interaction with smaller (inland) vessels.
To cope with these questions, a captive model test program has been carried out at the towing tank for manoeuvres in shallow water for different under keel clearances and dock widths. Four set-ups were tested: the interaction between a passing container vessel and two moored container vessels; the interaction between a passing container vessel and a moored tanker and inland vessel; the interaction between a swinging container vessel and up to two moored container vessels and two container vessels meeting each other near a selection of moored ships.