Assessment of Vessel Mooring Conditions Using Satellite Navigation System Real-Time Kinematic Application

Abstract

When mooring a ship near the quay, it is important to monitor its speed at the time of contact with the quay to ensure the safe execution of the mooring operation. During mooring, the speed of the ship must not exceed specified values; therefore, it is very important to have the possibility to measure it with high accuracy and its appropriate adjustment. This article aims to present the assessment methodology of the forces acting on quay equipment when a ship is mooring using data provided by the real-time kinematic (RTK) application of the navigation satellite system, as well as a way to calculate the comparative index, which can show the advantages of using data provided by high-accuracy measurement systems compared with the typical one. The methodology of assessing the forces acting on quay equipment when the ship is mooring using data provided by high-precision systems was applied. To verify the developed methodology, the experiments were carried out on real ships and using a calibrated simulator. Based on the research results, it was stated that when planning and managing ships’ mooring operations in ports using data provided by the RTK application, it is possible to reduce the planned energy absorption of quay fenders up to 1.5–1.8 times while preparing the investment in quay development. The implementation of the developed methodology may contribute to the improvement of navigation safety when ships are mooring near the quays and thus allow for the reduction in the probability of undesirable situations occurring. The research results may be of interest to representatives of seaports authorities, traffic management offices, shipowners and other institutions involved in safe ships’ navigation in seaports and approaches to them.