A Study on Yaw-checking and Course-keeping Ability of Directionally Unstable Ships

Abstract

Yaw-checking and course-keeping ability in IMO's ship manoeuvrability standards are reviewed from the viewpoint of safe navigation. Three kinds of virtual series-ships, which have different course instability, are taken as test models. The numerical simulation on Z-test is carried out in order to examine the correlation between known manoeuvrability in spiral characteristics and various kinds of overshoot angle. Then simulator experiments are executed with series-ships in a curved, narrow waterway by six operators(five active pilots and one ex-captain) in order to examine the correlation between known manoeuvrability and degree of manoeuvring difficulty. IMO criteria for yaw-checking and course-keeping ability are discussed and revised criteria are proposed.