A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF ARTICULATED SHIPS

Using two computer simulation models as a means of evaluation, this presents the results of a study on the feasibility of the articulated ship concept in comparison with conventional ship types. An articulated ship is a vessel made up of a single powerplant section and several independent, detachable cargo sections which may be used as barges. No consideration is given to engineering feasibility or to a specific design. The first model was designed to consider economic factors primarily and simulates only very simple operational characteristics. A direct comparison is given between articulated and conventional vessels on the basis of capital Recovery Factor for a total of 1800 cases. Much more realistic operation, allowing for stochastic fluctuations in many quantities, unrestricted trade patterns, and Poisson cargo generation were simulated in the second model. The study concludes that for the same number of vessels per fleet and the same bale cubic per vessel, an articulated fleet can carry almost twice as much per year as a conventional fleet. It is also superior for all normal values of bale cubic, and for most values of voyage distance except the combination of very long voyages with a large number of ports and large amounts of cargo.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document is available for review at the Department of Commerce Library, Main Commerce Building, Washington, D.C., under reference number M-3-FE.
• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02139
• Authors:
  • Hughes, O F
• Publication Date: 1963-6

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 117 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic analysis; Naval architecture; Shipbuilding; Simulation; Tug ship interaction; Vehicle design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ship design
• Old TRIS Terms: Tug barge systems
• Subject Areas: Design; Economics; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00026678
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Maritime Administration
• Contract Numbers: MA-2710
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: May 11 1973 12:00AM