Stability Aspects of Bulk Carriers

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Egyptian Navigation Company, Alexandria, Egypt

2 Faculty of Engineering ,Port Fouad, Port Said University

3 Faculty of Engineering , Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

4 Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt

Abstract

Bulk carriers are one of the three dominating merchant ship types together with grain and container vessels.
Today, bulk carriers comprise about one third of the world fleet in tonnage terms. The demand for raw materials like
coal, iron, copper, …etc., has increased considerably since the turn of the millennium. Moreover, the bulk carrier has
specific nature due to the loaded bulk cargo’s parameters which may slosh, liquefy, shift...etc.
The intact stability of bulk carriers is investigated, with respect to the latest regulations developed by IMO. The
effect of loading conditions and types of cargoes on ship stability and cargo earning capacity are studied. It is found that
in some cases of loading conditions with certain types of cargo we have to use ballast water to satisfy the new grain
regulations. This will lead to a reduction in the cargo earning capacity of the ship. The study under consideration is very
important from the economic point of view of the vessel’s operation. Ship’s owners and charters must know which type
of bulk cargoes is more profitable in case they have a choice to carry different types of bulk cargoes.
A computer program is developed to carry out the stability calculations. Firstly we should get the vessel’s lines
plans drawings, then using these drawings to prepare the vessel’s tables of offsets. Using these tables of offsets and
Model Maker Program, full model of ship’s sections at different stations and the general arrangement can be obtained.
Take this model in the Auto Hydro program to do the different loading conditions calculations. A programing
code is written and to be run to check the compliance with the intact stability criteria

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