APPLICATION OF WAVE FORECASTS TO MARINE NAVIGATION

The effects of currents, winds, and waves on ship propulsion are discussed. The most important term in the overall loss of ship speed is shown to be wave action. This action works two ways: directly through the actual resistance of the water to the movement of the ship, and indirectly through the voluntary reduction in speed necessitated by violent motions of pitch, heave, and roll. Methods are shown for the use of synoptic and prognostic wave charts in the selection of an approximate least-time track, and examples of tracks used by commercial steamship companies are given. Some secondary applications of wave charts are illustrated by examples. The Appendix contains graphs showing the relationship between ship speed and head, beam, and following waves of varying heights.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Report; Reprinted 1959, 1975 by U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office, Washington, D.C.
• Corporate Authors:

  Navy Hydrographic Office

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • JAMES, R W
• Publication Date: 1957-7

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 92 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Charts; Railroad tracks; Routing; Ships; Wave height; Waves; Weather routing; Wind
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ship routing
• Old TRIS Terms: Currents; Ship speed
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00649985
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Maritime Technical Information Facility
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 21 1994 12:00AM