OVERVIEW

This lecture of the Deck Officer curriculum covers the competencies concerned with the manoeuvrability and handling of ships in all conditions. i.e.: deep and shallow water manoeuvrability in calm water (high-speed at sailing and low-speed at port), environmental disturbances effect (waves, swell, wind, tides and currents), hydrodynamic interactions with topography/bathymetry (restricted waters: under-keel clearance, canals and banks) and with other vessels (ship-to-ship or tug-to-ship).

The lecture is elective for the Deck Officer curriculum; it covers competence 1.10 of the IMO Model Course for MASTER AND CHIEF MATE, Function 1 - Navigation at the Management Level, Manoeuvring and handling a ship in all conditions (STCW Code, chapter II, section A-II/2), as well as the Italian Law for Master and Chief Engineer CoC.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching unit aims at raising a theoretical physical-based awareness of the vessel's dynamical response to all the main means of propulsion and control, under any environmental and bathymetric condition. Key topic is the development of a critical, practical, and operative mathematical force vector analysis framework in support to the decision-making process, which lies at the base of the safe handling of vessels with respect to route planning, ports building and management. Amongst the analysed scenarios: teaching unit stability and IMO standards at speed, calm and rough weather manoeuvrability (wind, waves and current), restricted waters and canals interactions, tugs and towing operations, berthing and unberthing with mooring lines, anchoring and emergency operations management. At the end students will be able to plan and schedule operations with a specialistic critical and technical perspective which lies at the base of modern bridge simulation infrastructures.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the teaching unit is to raise physical and practical awareness of the vessel's dynamical response to all the main means of control and propulsion which could be installed on board (active or passive devices) under any condition (weather, bathymetry and topography) with respect to the vessel type (cruise/pax/roro, container, tanker/bulk). 

Many operative scenarios will be vectorially analyzed with a practical mathematical and physical approach; amongst those: straight-course stability at sailing speed (IMO Dieudonne' spiral/pull-out), calm water manoeuvrability (IMO turning, zig-zag & crash-stop), rough weather effect onto manoeuvre (wind, waves and current force evaluation and centring), approaching harbours and shallow waters effects, canals navigation and restricted waters effects, berthing and unberthing manoeuvrability with/without tugs or auxiliary thrusters, towing operations and dynamics, the use of anchor, and some insights in emergency scenarios.

The aim of the lectures is to provide an in-depth and physical-based knowledge of the subjects included in IMO MODEL COURSE Master and Chief Mate, as well as Italian Law for Master and Chief Engineer CoC. In detail, the course aims to cover the main mandatory minimum requirements for knowledge, understanding and proficiency according to the requirements of the STCW Code, chapter II, section A-II/2 - Navigation at the Management Level (Function 1), Manoeuvring and handling a ship in all conditions (competence 1.10).

The teaching unit contributes to the development of soft-skills, i.e. the alphabetical-functional competence.

PREREQUISITES

Math & physics teaching units attended and passed (not compulsory). Students can take advantage of watchkeeping experience; however no specific working or training experience is required.

TEACHING METHODS

The classes will be held in presence. Additional offline materials will be supplied in support to the lectures (slides and video recordings) - see Aulaweb and Teams.

A final field trip at Genoa ports and a practical visit to the UNIGE simulation manoeuvring infrastructure is encompassed within the course programme.

Working students and students with certified SLD (Specific Learning Disorders), disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination arrangements so to take into account individual learning patterns, while respecting the teaching objectives.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

PART I - MANOEUVRABILITY PHYSICS. Introduction, IMO Standards, Manoeuvrability Equations, Hydrodynamic forces acting on the hull (linear and quadratic effects with speed) and Course-stability (hull-shapes and appendages configuration), Propulsion and Control means hydrodynamics (active/passive and aux devices), Environmental effects (waves, current, winds), Bathymetric/Topographical effects (under-keel clearance, banks, canals), Vessel-to-vessel interactions (ship-tugs-pilot), towing and tugs (pushing/pulling and speed effectiveness and safety - types and operational profiles).

PART II - APPLIED MANOEUVRABILITY. Main vessel types summary (hull-skeg-appendages configurations), standard control-propulsion setups (single/twin screw and motor vessels) and manoeuvring implications. High-speed and low-speed force's schemes and consequent effect on centring of hydrodynamic forces and pivot point shifting. Variation of manoeuvring features with respect to loading, attitude, environmental forces, topographical interactions (bottom, quays or canals) and vessel interactions (meeting or overtaking). Force allocation in berthing/unberthing and dynamic positioning operations. Towing modes and dynamics (pushing/pulling), bollard pull requirements, tug fleet selection, allocation and management for manoeuvring. The use of anchor. Final exercises.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

BENEDETTO PIAGGIO (President)

MASSIMO FIGARI

MICHELE VIVIANI

GIOVANNI ANGELO MARTINO LETTICH (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/10948/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of two parts: written (manoeuvring planning, forces evaluation/sketches and free-body diagrams) and oral (theoretical knowledge and practical proficiency). Both contribute equally to the final mark.

Dates: see calendar, or by appointment.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment is based on the theoretical/physical knowledge (50%) and the practical implication proficiency (50%). The maximum score is 30/30 cum laude.

Exam schedule