Q9 (10 Marks) Ship Resistance & Propulsion
SC&S • Written Exam

(a) Explain the concept of Dynamical stability (6)

(b) The wetted surface area of a container ship is 5946m2, when travelling at its service speed the effective power required is 11250 kW with frictional resistance 74% of the total resistance and specific fuel consumption of 0.22 kg/kW h. To conserve fuel, the ship speed is reduced by 10%, the daily fuel consumption is then found to be 83 tonne.

Frictional coefficient in sea water is 1.432.

Speed in m/s with index (n) 1.825

Propulsive coefficient may be assumed constant at 0.6

Determine (10)

(i) The service speed of the ship

(ii) The percentage increase in specific fuel consumption when running at reduced speed

Appeared In: Sep 2022

Verified Model Answer (Text Solution)

Structured for DG Shipping MEO Class II examination scoring criteria.

Exam Ready
Part (a)

Dynamical Stability is defined as the amount of energy required to heel a ship from its upright equilibrium position to a specific angle of heel. It provides a measure of the vessel's stability by considering its behaviour in response to dynamic external forces, such as wind or waves.

  • The concept compares the heeling moment energy (from external forces) and the righting moment energy (from the ship's stability).
  • The ship will absorb the energy imparted by the heeling moment. If the righting energy is greater than the heeling energy, the ship will stabilize; otherwise, it may capsize.

Areas Under the Curve:

  • Area A: Represents the region where the heeling moment exceeds the righting moment (external energy > ship's stability).
  • Area B: Represents the region where the righting moment exceeds the heeling moment (ship's stability > external energy).
  • The balance of these areas determines whether the ship will right itself or continue to heel.

When exposed to heeling forces such as wind or waves, the vessel inclines and may roll over to a certain angle of heel. If the external force is applied instantaneously, the ship must have enough reserve dynamic stability to absorb the energy and return to an upright position. If the external force is constant, the ship will remain at an equilibrium angle where the righting moment equals the heeling moment.

This refers to the remaining righting energy available to counteract additional external forces. A higher reserve dynamic stability ensures the vessel can handle greater heeling forces without capsizing.

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