Experimental investigation of towing- and course-stability of a FPSO towed by a tug-boat with lateral motion

In the conventional experiment to assess the towing operations, the towing stability of the towed vessel has been evaluated under the condition without lateral motion of the tug-boat. However, the tug-boats may have a lateral force to change the direction of the towed vessel. In this study, experiments have been conducted considering unsteady conditions in the towing system. First, a towing test system in a Circular Water Channel (CWC) using the conventional experimental method is built. Second, the towing characteristics of the towed vessel are investigated using the conventional method, and they are compared with other research results and stability discriminant criteria. Third, the lateral motion of the tug-boat was modeled as a sinusoidal motion using a forced oscillation device changing frequency and amplitude. Finally, the discussion is given in terms of both towing- and course-stability of the towed vessel according to the lateral motion of the tug-boat.