Theshipsdynamicunderkeelclearanceasanelementofportsafetymanagement.docVIP

THE SHIP’S DYNAMIC UNDER KEEL CLEARANCE AS AN ELEMENT OF PORT SAFETY MANAGEMENT Galor W. Martitime University of Szczecin, ul. Wa?y Chrobrego 1/ 2, PL 70-500 Szczecin, Poland Abstract: The safety of a ship manoeuvring within a port area mainly depends on its under keel clearance. In many cases there is a need to accommodate ships larger than those the port has been designed for. This can be achieved by modernizing some components of port water areas or by changing operating conditions. This article will examine the components of some methods of under keel clearance determination. Their verification has been proposed. 1. Introduction The world fleet tends to expand in terms of total capacity, with vessels growing in size, while their number is maintained on a similar level. The building of new ports is restricted on the one hand by natural conditions of sea areas, and necessary large financial effort on the other hand. As economic and geopolitical conditions change, directions of cargo transport (bulk in particular) also change, sometimes in a cycle lasting a few years. This in turn, makes building new ports a risky enterprise for investors, as the invested capital return amounts to at least twenty years. Therefore, a need arises to use the existing ports for handling ships larger than those the ports are designed for. This objective can be achieved through changes in operating conditions withing ports and the modernization of certain components of port basins and areas. These measures should results in ports handling ships as large as possible on condition that specified safety level is maintained. Safe manoeuvring of a ship within a given area requires that the manoeuvring area of a ship with a specific draft is comprised within available port water area having a required depth. There are two undesired types of events that can lead to a navigational accident within a port area: impact on the shore (or another port structure), contact with the area bottom. In