Illustration of hydrodynamic forces affecting a moored ship.

Navigating the Waves: How Passing Ships Affect Moored Vessels and Port Safety

Rhea Morgan in Tech & Innovation December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover the hidden forces at play when ships pass near moored vessels, and how understanding these dynamics is crucial for safer port operations and infrastructure design."

Imagine a calm harbor. A large cargo ship smoothly sails past a docked vessel. What seems like a routine event actually involves complex interactions beneath the surface. When a ship moves through water, it generates hydrodynamic forces that can significantly impact nearby moored vessels, potentially causing them to move, sway, and experience considerable stress.

These interactions are particularly critical in busy ports and narrow waterways, where the proximity of moving and stationary ships is unavoidable. The forces generated by a passing ship can affect a moored vessel's stability and the structural integrity of the mooring system itself. Understanding these forces is essential for designing resilient port infrastructure and ensuring the safety of docked ships.

This article delves into the dynamic response of moored vessels to passing ship phenomena, drawing upon research to explain the underlying forces and their implications for maritime engineering and port management. We'll explore how engineers are modeling these interactions and developing strategies to mitigate potential risks, contributing to safer and more efficient port operations.

The Ripple Effect: Understanding Hydrodynamic Forces

Illustration of hydrodynamic forces affecting a moored ship.

When a ship sails, it displaces water, creating waves and pressure changes that radiate outwards. If another ship is moored nearby, it becomes subject to these hydrodynamic interactions. These forces can manifest in several ways:

These forces can act in combination, leading to complex movements of the moored vessel. The magnitude of these forces depends on several factors:

Ship Size and Speed: Larger and faster ships generate greater hydrodynamic forces.
Distance Between Ships: The closer the ships, the stronger the interaction.
Water Depth: Shallow waters can amplify the effects.
Hull Shape: The design of both the passing and moored vessels influences the way water flows around them.

Researchers use sophisticated models to predict these forces, considering the interplay of these variables. These models are crucial for designing mooring systems that can withstand the stresses imposed by passing ships.

Charting a Safer Course: The Future of Port Design

The research into passing ship phenomena highlights the importance of considering hydrodynamic interactions in port design and operations. By understanding the forces at play, engineers can:

<ul><li>Design more robust mooring systems: Capable of withstanding the dynamic loads imposed by passing ships.</li><li>Optimize channel design: Minimizing the interaction forces between vessels.</li><li>Implement speed restrictions: Reducing the forces generated by passing ships in sensitive areas.</li></ul>

Ultimately, a proactive approach to managing passing ship effects contributes to safer, more efficient, and more resilient port environments. As maritime traffic increases, continued research and innovation in this area will be essential for ensuring the stability and longevity of our vital port infrastructure.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1051/matecconf/201814705003, Alternate LINK

Title: Dynamic Response Of Breasting Dolphin Moored With 40,000 Dwt Ship Due To Parallel Passing Ship Phenomenon

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: MATEC Web of Conferences

Publisher: EDP Sciences

Authors: Heri Setiawan, Muslim Muin

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What are hydrodynamic forces and how do they impact moored vessels when ships pass by?

When a ship passes by a moored vessel, it creates hydrodynamic forces due to the displacement of water. These forces can cause the moored vessel to experience sway, surge, heave, roll, pitch, and yaw. The magnitude of these forces depends on factors like the size and speed of the passing ship, the distance between the ships, the water depth, and the hull shapes of both vessels.

What factors determine the magnitude of hydrodynamic forces on moored vessels from passing ships?

The size and speed of the passing ship significantly affect the magnitude of hydrodynamic forces. Larger and faster ships generate more substantial forces. The distance between the passing ship and the moored vessel is also critical; closer proximity results in stronger interactions. Water depth plays a role as well, with shallower waters often amplifying these effects. Additionally, the hull shapes of both the passing and moored vessels influence how water flows around them, thus impacting the forces exerted.

How do engineers predict the hydrodynamic forces exerted on moored vessels by passing ships?

Engineers use sophisticated models that consider factors like ship size, speed, distance, water depth, and hull shape to predict hydrodynamic forces. These models help in designing mooring systems capable of withstanding the stresses caused by passing ships. The models enable a better understanding of how different variables interact, ensuring safer port infrastructure.

Why is understanding passing ship phenomena important for port design and operations?

Understanding passing ship phenomena is crucial for designing more resilient port infrastructure. By accurately predicting hydrodynamic forces, engineers can design mooring systems that minimize the risk of damage and ensure the safety of docked ships. This knowledge contributes to safer and more efficient port operations by mitigating potential risks associated with ship interactions.

Beyond what's mentioned, what other measures can ports take to further mitigate risks related to passing ship effects on moored vessels?

Research into passing ship phenomena leads to designing mooring systems that can withstand hydrodynamic forces, optimizing port layouts to minimize passing ship interactions, and developing operational procedures to reduce the speed of ships in critical areas. Although not explicitly detailed here, implementing advanced monitoring systems and real-time data analysis can further improve safety by providing early warnings of potentially dangerous situations.