Adaptive Roll Stabilization of Fishing Vessels

Abstract

The application of frequency adaptive anti-roll tanks on fishing vessels is well established but currently restricted to U-tube designs. This paper concerns the initial stages of a research programme to develop a more generic anti-roll system that will be applicable to a range of tank geometries, with minimal alteration to the existing tank structure. Two possible control strategies, based on continuous and intermittent fluid flow, are assessed for a U-tube tank and the potential of extending the technique to a free-surface tank with a central partition is examined. The intermittent flow scheme was found to be most effective at longer roll periods while the continuous flow scheme was heavily reliant on a low value of fluid flow resistance.