Development of hull form and propulsion system, optimal for river-sea ships of the northern Black Sea

Abstract

An optimal hull form and propulsion system of river-sea ships essentially depend on restrictions of inland waterways in navigation area. The river-sea ships of the Northern Black Sea were historically designed in view of operation through the locks of European inland waterways of former USSR. Corresponding ships of later USSR were designed as simple and technological. Due to dramatic economical changes the ships of the new generation had drastic distinctions in features of general and propulsion design. The latter ones have been analyzed in detail. It is shown that the implemented maximum hull fatness has sound economic grounds. However, azimuthal thrusters did not prove their indispensability. Within the considered ship type, prospective propulsion solutions have been suggested. In particular, specially designed twin-skeg afterbodies are recommended as a further step towards propulsion optimality. The described development of design approaches was supported by the outlined development of the used CFD methods.