Metocean forecasting for ports and terminals

Metocean forecasting for ports and terminals

Kirkegaard, J. (jkj@dhigroup.com) (DHI, Ports and Offshore, Hørsholm, Denmark)
Kofoed-Hansen, H. (DHI, Ports and Offshore, Hørsholm, Denmark)
Sloth, P. (DHI, Ports and Offshore, Hørsholm, Denmark)
Tacher, E. (DHI, Ports and Offshore, Hørsholm, Denmark)

2010-06-22

Industry standard numerical models are excellent and accurate tools for analysis of port plans and design. They link meteorological and oceanographic information to impacts on moored vessels and thereby provide the metocean conditions along the berths. By use of relevant motion and safety criteria for moored vessels, numerical modelling studies can assist the designer and the port owner to determine the optimal protection for the port operation. Operators and users of an exposed port or terminal will from time to time experience downtime due to adverse weather conditions. Downtime can be associated with strong currents in the approach channel and port entrance or with difficulties encountered for pilot assistance. It can also be due to excessive motions of the vessel resulting in suspension of loading/unloading by cranes or over ramps. If the port operator and the port user receive early information on conditions in and around the port and is able to interpret this information into expected conditions for arriving vessels they will be able to make prudent decisions on optimal and safe arrival at the port. This paper describes the use of numerical models and state-of-art-methods for ship motion analysis in combination with metocean forecast to build a web-based operational tool for vessels calling at ports and, terminal facilities. The systems present in a user friendly way the forecast exposure at the berths for the coming week which can guide the port operator to select the most suitable time for arrival and berthing and selecting the optimal berth for the planned loading/unloading operation.

Hanstholm
water forecast
wave forecast
hydro-meteo forecast

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:86b6acf1-42d5-4f73-bf80-1a368accb44c

Conference proceedings

conference paper

(c) 2010 Kirkegaard, J.; Kofoed-Hansen, H.; Sloth, P.; Tacher, E.