Manoeuvring characteristics of twin-rudder systems: rudder-hull interaction effect on the manoeuvrability of twin-rudder ships

Abstract

With a recent increase in ship capacity and propulsion performance, a wide-beam ship fitted with a twin-rudder system has been adopted in many cases. However, to improve ship manoeuvring, it is still necessary to have a better understanding of rudder-hull interactions in twin-rudder ships. Captive model tests (oblique towing and circular motion test) as well as free-running tests with a single-propeller twin-rudder ship and a twin-propeller twin-rudder ship are carried out. The effect of drift angle on the rudder forces and some peculiar phenomena concerning rudder normal force for twin-rudder ships are evaluated. A method for estimating the hull-rudder interaction coefficients based on free-running experimental results is proposed.