Prediction of a Container Ship Squat in Suez Canal Using CFD

Abstract

Minor grounding or contact accidents may occur from time to time in Suez Canal. However, in March 2021, the economic ramifications of a critical grounding resounded around the world and were still felt after the Ever-Given container ship was freed from the banks. The results of a computational investigation of a ship cruising through Suez Canal are presented in this study, and hopefully can be utilized to foresee and prevent future ship's squat and bank effects throughout the determination of proper trim. The KRISO Container Ship (KCS) was picked as the example vessel for this investigation, carried out through the commercial code STAR-CCM+, and representing a comprehensive CFD analysis of such an event. The governing equations are expressed in integral form by the finite-volume based solver STAR-CCM+. The CFD investigation is performed by utilizing a Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solver, a k-ε turbulence model and the Volume of Fluid (VOF) approach. The CFD model is validated based on the ships' experimental data. The investigation empowers shipmasters and marine pilots to comprehend the effects of squat thus avoiding ship accidents when going through Suez Canal.