An initial feasibility study for the new berths revealed that problems were to be expected related to the movements and mooring forces of moored (inland waterway) ships due to the passing of large sea going vessels. For the port of Amsterdam this study was the reason to initiate a measurement program to address mooring forces and movements of a moored ship under the influences of passing vessels. During a period of 3 days and the passing of 19 large ships, water movement, ship mooring forces and ship mooring movements of an inland waterway barge have been measured.

The conclusions from these measurements and the following analysis are:

• Wave length of the primary wave as measured near the moored vessel has a length of approximately 2 times the length of the passing vessel.
• A revision of the calculation method is required to indicate the static mooring forces of the moored ship.
• The expected maximum mooring forces and movements of a moored ship parallel to the channel axis, due to passing ships, remain within acceptable limits.

Location
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Date
2003