Innovative Mooring in the Port of the Future: Scale Model Testing of the ShoreTension System

Abstract

Moored vessels often experience low-frequency vessel motions when moored in a port due to wave excitation. Under such conditions the loading and offloading of vessels may be hampered when these movements become too large [1,2,3]. Innovative mooring techniques can be used for reducing issues with excessive motions of moored vessels in waves [4,5,6]. Considering applying such techniques as part of the design of mooring facilities and ports is expected to make different approaches to port or mooring facility designs possible. Such techniques, like the ShoreTension (ST) system, are already applied successfully worldwide in ports [7,8,9], however the application and performance limits of such systems under extreme conditions are not well known. This paper describes the results of a research project using physical scale modelling to systematically verify and extend the applicability and performance limits of innovative mooring systems. It resulted in a solid validation database for validating numerical models. The knowledge developed in this research will benefit developers of mooring facilities (including ports) to significantly reduce costs by limiting the need for structures providing shelter from waves. Furthermore, this may also help lowering the impact of port infrastructure on the coastal system when using less invasive infrastructure.