Challenging wind and wavesLinking hydrodynamic research to the maritime industry

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Pro-active response to market needsBy feeding back the results of advanced research

programmes into commercial projects, MARIN has created

a powerful synergy with the maritime industry. This industry

is being confronted with shorter cycle times and increasing

global competition in challenging environmental and

economic conditions. By becoming involved in projects as

early as possible, MARIN can help meet these challenges.

Our customers include commercial ship builders, fleet

owners, navies, naval architects and offshore companies

the world over.

A dual missionWe have a dual mission: to provide industry with innovative

design solutions and to carry out advanced research for the

benefit of the maritime sector as a whole. In this way, we

strengthen the link between academic research and market

needs. It is a unique interaction that benefits all parties

concerned. The driving force behind this dual mission is a

team of highly motivated and experienced people. MARIN

is innovative, independent and above all, reliable.

MARIN has been expanding the

boundaries of maritime understanding with

hydrodynamic research for over

80 years. Today, this research is applied

for the benefit of Concept Development,

Design Support, Operations Support

and Tool Development. The services

incorporate a unique combination of

simulation, model testing, full-scale

measurements and training programmes.

Reliable, independent and innovative MARIN, the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands, has become a reliable, independent and innovative service provider for the maritime sector and a contributor to the well being of society. We take initiative to couple our own expertise to various application areas to broaden our ability to solve problems. By maintaining our leadership position in hydrodynamic and nautical research and development, we make our accumulated know-how and experience available for Concept Development, Design Support, Operations Support and Tool Development. This commitment to high-quality techno-logical innovation enables you to meet the challenges facing your industry today.

Meeting the Industry’s Needs

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We extend boundaries by supporting the

entire design process – from validating

initial ideas to measuring the performance

of finished products. The shipyard, designer

or architect retains overall responsibility

for a project, while MARIN provides

complementary skills and expertise where

required. Regardless of the degree of

support, customers gain access to the

extensive know-how, experience and

facilities available within MARIN.

Concept Development - ‘exploring possibilities’ Concept Development involves taking a ship, offshore

construction or a harbour project from its concept

specifi cations to a design ready to be taken to the next

level. Together with naval architects and designers, we

evaluate the specifications, identify limitations, make

recommendations for improvement, and then provisionally

verify the key para meters using computer simulation and

elementary testing techniques. We look at propulsion

performance, motion optimisation, structural response,

manoeuvrability and safety, and draw on experience

gained in operational performance research programmes.

Design Support - ‘interacting to achieve perfection’Starting with a validated specification, Design Support

helps arrive at a solution. Because of time and commercial

pressures in the development of ship or offshore construc-

tions, we interact closely with the customer’s design team,

and assure swift simulation and modelling. The design is

refined using state-of-the-art facilities and tools. We consider

life-time performance parameters like speed, manoeuvrability,

motions and loads as well as safety and legal requirements.

By simulating performance, considerable savings can be

made in future operational and maintenance costs.

Operations Support - ‘improving performance’Once built, a ship or offshore construction may benefit from

MARIN’s expertise through Operations Support. From crew

training using state-of-the-art simulators to on-board measure-

ments, the design is optimised in service. Operations Support

ensures the ship does what it is designed for with the utmost

safety, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. If it fails to meet

expectations, we carry out full-scale investigations and analysis.

Results from model tests and computer simulations obtained

from Design Support are cross-referenced with actual measure-

ments. This process helps MARIN to validate its modelling

techniques to ensure they represent full-scale performance.

Tool Development - ‘making know-how accessible’ Developing software and hardware tools for use in the design

and operational verification of ships, offshore constructions and

harbours is an area in which MARIN draws heavily on its know-

ledge resources from both research and commercial projects.

Projects range from tools for calculating specific performance

parameters to custom computer modelling for design verification.

Training simulators for crew and harbour personnel, custom

on-board measurement equipment and commercial software

modules for maritime applications are further examples of how

MARIN uses its know-how to support the industry.

Extending Boundaries

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To fulfil its design and verifica-

tion services, MARIN has an

exceptional range of model

testing, computer simulation,

full-scale measurement and

training facilities. The synergy

between these activities is the

basis of our problem solving

capacity, aiming at a reliable

prediction. We have seven

tank facilities available to

solve specific design and

research issues.

Providing Exceptional Facilities

Offshore BasinThe Offshore Basin (10.2 m deep) is a

realistic environment for testing offshore

models. Its current generation system

allows different vertical current profiles.

Combined wind, waves and swell are

generated using wave generators on

both sides of the basin and a movable

windbed. A movable floor allows testing

from shallow to deep water, while a

30 m deep pit is available for ultra

deep water testing.

High-speed BasinWith its strong carriage and long length

(220 m), the High-speed Basin is an ideal

test facility for testing high-speed vessels

but also for testing risers at high Reynold’s

numbers. The performance of high-speed

vessels with conventional propellers, water

jets or hybrid solutions can be optimised.

Tests are conducted in ahead and in

astern wave conditions. A special set-up

is available for forced oscillation tests to

study vortex-induced vibrations (VIV).

Seakeeping and Manoeuvring BasinVerifying performance and safety requires

accurate representation of a ship and

its ride control elements in relevant

wave conditions. Our Seakeeping and

Manoeuvring Basin (170 x 40 m) is

designed for making arbitrary (high-speed)

manoeuvres in realistic waves from arbitrary

directions. The free-sailing or captive tests

provide insight into the seakeeping and

manoeuvring characteristics.

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Shallow Water BasinThe depth of the Shallow Water Basin

(220 x 15.75 m) is adjustable from 0 to

1.15 m. It is used to optimise the

propulsion characteristics of ships as

well as the (low speed) manoeuvring

behaviour in shallow water. This including

factors like proximity of quays and bank

suction. The test can be used as input

for simulations which help to optimise

nautical strategies. The facility is also

used for Concept Development and

Design Support of new offshore designs

in shallow water.

Depressurised Wave BasinModels of both ships and offshore

structures can be tested in most realistic

operational conditions in the Depressurised

Wave Basin (240 x 18 x 8 m). The basin

can be used for resistance and propulsion

tests. The capability to reduce ambient air

pressure as low as 2,5% of atmospheric

pressure and installed wave makers for

short and long crested waves up to 0.75 m,

makes it ideal for investigations into

cavitation, air chambers and wave impacts

with air entrapment.

Cavitation TunnelThe Cavitation Tunnel tests a range of

propulsor designs. Large propellers can

be tested at high Reynolds numbers to

predict accurate cavitation behaviour.

A tunnel loop is available to test the

performance and cavitation properties

of water jet impellers. Observation with

high-speed cameras enables detailed

cavitation flow investigations.

Deepwater Towing TankThe Deepwater Towing Tank (252 x 10.5 x

5.5 m) is used to optimize resistance and

propulsion characteristics of ship designs.

To provide insight in the possible improve-

ments in performance the tank has the

features to measure various wave and

flow patterns. In addition to the standard

resistance and propulsion tests the rudder

or pod angle, pod position and propeller

rotation direction can be optimised.

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Full-mission Bridge SimulatorsBy simulating the port environment and

the vessel, personnel such as captains,

pilots, mooring masters and tug masters

can demonstrate the feasibility of a port

layout in terms of safety and viability.

Full-mission Bridge Simulators are also

used for reducing risk and downtime in

(offshore) operations by training manoeuvring

and communication skills, or by optimising

manoeuvring strategies, port layouts and

vessel designs.

CFD SoftwareComputational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools

provide a cost and time effective method

for optimising the design in the early

design phase or addressing scale effects.

MARIN uses CFD tools to optimise hydro-

dynamic hull design, provide information

about flow behaviour around hull and

propeller under various conditions, and

predict propeller performance in open

water and in-behind conditions.

Ship Trial InvestigationsMARIN not only conducts sea trial measure-

ments but also performs in-situ analysis

of vibration and cavitation properties by,

for example, high-speed video observation

of propellers while recording dynamic hull

pressures and vibrations. Laser Doppler

and acoustic Doppler technology are used

to investigate flow patterns around the

hull. Slamming and whipping, and their

contribution to (fatigue) loading of the

vessel, are also investigated.

In combination with the model

tank facilities, MARIN uses

simulation software, full-scale

testing and training. This

strong combination is used to

achieve reliable prediction of

the performance in the design

phases but also to improve

and ensure the optimal

operational use of the ship

or structure.

Simulating Reality, Measuring Results

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Offshore Monitoring SystemsContinuous recording of dynamic behaviour

of offshore platforms is critical for operational

support, design feedback and verification

of numerical methods. The MARIN data

acquisition system accommodates sensor

sets for motion, hull strains, mooring and

riser tensions and VIV motions. System

control and results are accessible through

the Internet for a global service approach to

the offshore and shipping industry.

VTS SimulatorVessel Traffic Services (VTS) are the

acknowledged starting point for effective

vessel traffic management systems in ports

and busy shipping traffic lanes. The MARIN

VTS Simulator facilitates personnel training

and explores the future management

of large traffic flows in ports avoiding

congestion and improving the port’s safety,

security and viability (efficiency).

Offshore Multi-body SoftwareThe Offshore Multi-body tools simulate

operations at sea, including coupled mooring

analysis, dynamic positioning, multiple

body simulations during offshore lifting or

offloading. These capabilities can be linked

to each other, for example, to determine

dynamic positioning capabilities during

offshore lifting. This type of tool is always

based on the model basin experience of

MARIN, ensuring validation remains a top

priority.

Dynamic Stability Simulation SoftwareThe dynamic stability of ships in waves

and wind is investigated during early

design stages using programs that

also performs risk assessment into long-

term survivability of (damaged) ships.

These programs simulate the behaviour

of a steered ship subjected to wave and

wind conditions, and can predict large

motion phenomena such as capsizing,

broaching, surf riding, parametric roll and

ingress of water. This also has applications

in forensic research.

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It was MARIN’s long-standing relationship with Finish shipyard,

STX Europe, that led to its early involvement in the design

and development of the world’s largest cruise liner: Royal

Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas. Measuring over

225,000 gross tons the challenge was to meet the stringent

performance requirements set for this 360 metre-plus, revo-

lutionary vessel, to ensure safety, comfort and efficiency.

Flexural response in seaway It was important to quantify and judge the slamming-induced

flexural response of the ship early on. Wave-induced impact

pressures were measured on large 12 metre models using

seventy pressure gauges. By associating each pressure with

an area and orientation, STX Europe was able to use the

resulting data to produce dynamic, finite-element calculations

on the structural vibrations. These calculations were compared

to the shipyard’s continuous measurements at sea on a simi-

lar, but smaller, cruise liner, and the correlation was excel-

lent. The results were also validated successfully against the

direct measurements of a segmented, 7-metre, free-sailing

model. In this model, the vertical and horizontal 2- and

3-node bending modes and first torsion mode, were mod-

elled with a ‘simple’, flexible backbone. Slamming-induced

passenger discomfort, flexural response and global horizontal

& vertical bending and torsion moments were all measured.

Manoeuvrability With frequent calls to harbours, tight bays and restricted

channels, the gigantic Oasis was obliged to be as responsive

as any normal sized cruise liner. Large-scale model testing and

MARIN’s computer simulation tools were used to evaluate this.

Measurements determined the effect on Oasis of 60MW

main propulsion power and 22MW bow thruster power,

and a channel was modelled in MARIN’s Shallow Water Basin

to mimic real life. With fast-time simulations, manoeuvring

capability was tested for 20 harbours. Personnel also carried

out critical manoeuvres in confined waters on the Full-mission

Bridge Simulator. MARIN’s Seakeeping & Manoeuvring Basin

was used to perform free-sailing model tests to determine

manoeuvrability at cruising speeds.

Vibration Customer comfort is paramount to any cruise line, and the

propeller is always of vital concern. Propeller-induced pressure

pulses can send vibrations throughout a vessel structure, and

with this in mind, MARIN teamed up with Oasis’s propeller

designer to optimize the design, both for comfort and

efficiency. The resulting design was put through its paces

in MARIN’s Depressurised Towing Tank which modelled the

entire ship, and checked on cavitation behaviour and

induced pressure pulses. Specific criteria were developed to

check if the propeller-induced forces on the hull were

acceptable or not. And to verify the stringent requirements

for Oasis, full-scale measurements were carried out.

Speed and fuel consumption Efficiency is more important today than ever before. MARIN’s

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools were employed to

streamline Oasis’s hull and appendages, and performance

was validated and fine-tuned using model testing. MARIN

was also able to build on its broad experience with other

pod-propelled cruise liners, utilising an already researched,

pod scale-effect correction method for Oasis.

The commitment of Royal Caribbean International, STX

Europe and the engineering team, to optimize the design

and build of Oasis of the Seas, has yielded unprecedented

results, and MARIN is honoured to have been involved. The

project demanded state-of-the-art numerical optimisation

tools and advanced measurement techniques – attributes

for which MARIN has become renowned.

But there is no better proof of the success of this project

than the ship itself. Oasis of the Seas has achieved positive

passenger feedback ever since her maiden voyage, and is

noted for her stability and performance.

Working Practices, Doing Business (1)

Oasis of the Seas

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Final trials verified the results from MARIN simulation and model experiments

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The Offshore Basin’s 30 metre deep pit enables TLP testing at full tendon length

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Working Practices, Doing Business (2)

Tension Leg Platforms (TLPs)

The first TLPs were tested at MARIN in the early 1980s.

After the current Offshore Basin, with its deep pit, was put

into operation, MARIN’s level of knowledge and experience

with this type of structure increased exponentially. Many

complex hydrodynamic phenomena play a role in the

design of TLPs, such as non-linear wave loads, dynamic

tendon loads, vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) and vortex-

induced motions (VIM), relative wave motions and

possible deck impacts. MARIN’s broad range of services

and expertise covers all these aspects. As a result, we

have welcomed many TLPs for testing at our facilities in

the past decade, including the Snorre, Okume, Shenzi,

Pony and Big Foot TLPs.

Unique model testing capabilitiesThe Offshore Basin is a unique model testing facility with

state-of-the-art capabilities for simulating waves, currents

and wind. The basin’s 30 metre deep pit is of particular

importance for the model testing of deep-water TLPs

because it enables the full TLP mooring system to be

tested without having to truncate the tendons. Simulating

the full tendon length is essential for TLPs as it means

that important aspects such as platform set-down and

air-gap can be modelled correctly.

Extreme wave loadsModel testing of TLPs often includes tests in extreme

environments. This requires knowledge of extreme wave

conditions, as well as the ability to realistically scale these

extreme wave conditions in the model basin. Measuring

relative wave motions, air-gap and deck impact loads

reliably is a complex task that requires an integrated design

of the model and its instrumentation. In-house 3D CAD

software enables MARIN to accurately design and construct

the most complex platforms in great detail. In addition,

high-speed video recording and computational fluid dynamics

(CFD) are used to understand complex flow phenomena

around and between the platform’s columns.

Current loads and VIMIn strong currents a TLP may show vortex-induced motions

(VIM), which can play an important role in designing the

platform. VIM manifests itself based on the current velocity,

current direction and natural periods of the platform. MARIN

has developed a special set-up for VIM tests on TLPs by

using ultra-low-friction, air-lubricated bearings to apply

vertical pretension to the model. This approach means that

VIM tests can be conducted in a towing basin with a

perfectly constant current, while at the same time the

correct platform mass and displacement can be maintained.

Research into the possibility of calculating VIM using CFD

is still ongoing.

Full-scale measurementsMeasuring platform motions, structural loads, and tendon

and riser tensions on board an offshore structure requires

specialised knowledge and equipment. MARIN provides the

services required to monitor platforms over their operational

lifespan. A case in point is the Marco Polo TLP, on which

MARIN successfully recorded extreme conditions resulting from

phenomena such as hurricane Ivan and loop current events.

Besides these activities, MARIN is also dedicating a number

of research projects to issues related to the hydrodynamics

of TLPs. These projects include the Current Affairs Joint

Industry Project, which focuses on the current loads on

offshore structures, the ComFLOW Joint Industry Projects,

through which a tool for volume of fluid (VOF) calculations

was developed, and the ongoing development of ReFRESCO,

MARIN’s in-house CFD code. Finally, the CresT Joint Industry

Project investigated the properties of extreme wave

conditions at sea and in model basins, as well as the TLP

motion response and resulting tension loads.

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forums within the framework of European initiatives and

regulations enhances interaction with customers and

with the marketplace as a whole, facilitating a broader

translation of our fundamental and theoretical know-how

into real-life applications.

Fundamental researchFundamental research and technology development is

crucial for MARIN in order to maintain a leading position

in hydrodynamics, and supporting the maritime industry

as a whole. For such extensive research, MARIN cooperates

with other institutes, universities and organizations in

the Netherlands and overseas.

Training and seminarsOther important carriers for transferring MARIN’s expertise

and knowledge are training and seminars. Courses for

designers and architects are held periodically throughout the

year. To increase interaction with the market, MARIN also

organises seminars that bring together groups of customers

with common design issues to discuss possible solutions.

Transfer of theoretic knowledge to real applications MARIN views Joint Industry Projects (JIP) as one of the most

important steps in the development, sharing and application

of knowledge. The cycle starts with the development of

fundamental knowledge and scientific research in coopera-

tion with universities. The JIP promotes the transfer of

theoretic knowledge to concrete applications in industry,

and combines customer contact, market-driven research

and the development of practical tools. Pooling resources

at a pre-competitive level, all parties enjoy the cost savings

of shared investment and benefit from research they could

not afford alone. Joint Industry Projects form a significant

part of MARIN’s business.

Cooperative ResearchMARIN’s role in the development of maritime knowledge

is shared with the market through participation in forums

such as the Cooperative Research Ships (CRS), the

Cooperative Research Navies (CRNAV) and the FPSO

Research Forum. Participating in thematic networks and

Sharing Experiences and Building Knowledge

In addition to providing commercial hydro-

dynamic design and verification services to

industry and governments, MARIN’s contri-

bution to shaping tomorrow’s products also

takes place through fundamental research,

cooperative research in international networks

and Joint Industry Projects. By sharing

experiences through training and seminars

at our facility in the Netherlands, the common

knowledge base continues to grow.

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MARIN2, Haagsteeg

P.O. Box 28

6700 AA Wageningen

The Netherlands

Phone +31 317 49 39 11

Fax +31 317 49 32 45

E-mail info@marin.nl

Web www.marin.nl

www.marin.nl