Experimental analysis of the squat of ships advancing through the New Suez Canal

Abstract

As a ship travels forward, squat of the ship may occur due to an increase in sinkage and trim. Squat is a crucial factor that restricts ship navigation in shallow water. A new division of the Suez Canal, the New Suez Canal, recently opened for international navigation. It is important to obtain accurate prediction data for ship squat to minimise the risk of grounding in this canal.To provide guidance for shipping in canals a series of experiments was conducted on a model scale of the Kriso Container Ship (KCS). The squat of the KCS was examined by measuring its sinkage and trim. A wide range of water depth to ship draft ratios at various ship speeds was investigated. Additionally, the blockage effect was studied by varying the canal width, and deep water tests were performed. The results indicated that for Froude's number based on depth (Fnh) below 0.4, measured squat value do not change with either Fnh or depth to draft ratio (H/T). The squat increases with H/T values for Froude numbers higher than 0.4. Moreover, a canal with reduced width had a negligible effect on squat, suggesting that the next segment of the Suez Canal can be built to a narrower width.