Hydrodynamic Interaction and Steering of Ships in Confined Waterways using Overset Mesh

Abstract

Safe navigation in confined waterways, such as narrow channels, is a challenging aspect of maritime operations, particularly when two vessels meet or pass each other at close distance. In these situations, hydrodynamic interaction effects between the ships and the surrounding channel boundaries can significantly influence the vessels’ motion, maneuverability, and steering behavior. If these effects are not properly anticipated, they may compromise the safety of such encounters.

This thesis investigates the applicability of Computational Fluid Dynamics for simulating ship encounters in confined waterways. The work focuses on the use of OpenFOAM together with overset mesh and the Volume of Fluid method to model free-surface flow and moving vessels. A numerical simulation strategy is developed in several stages, starting from a single-hull case in a channel and progressing toward a two-hull meeting scenario. The aim is to assess whether the selected numerical methods can capture relevant hydrodynamic interaction effects and support the development of steering strategies for safe passage, using only accessible local data such as the ship’s yaw angle and distance to obstacles. The purpose is to contribute to the development of steering methods that reduce reliance on external satellite-based navigation systems such as GPS.