Study on the bow shapes above the waterline in view of the powering and greenhouse gas emissions in actual seas

Abstract

In the shipping industry, as well as in other industries, a reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions is expected to help to reduce global warming. Shipbuilding companies are now developing ship hull forms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with an emphasis on the vessel performance in actual seas where winds and waves are part of this environment. In this paper the bow shapes above the waterline, which may affect the added resistance in waves, are focused upon since the ship motion and wave reflection at the bow contribute to the added resistance in waves that can be reduced by an improvement in the bow shapes above the waterline. The relationship between the bow shapes above the waterline and the added wave resistance is investigated through tank tests in waves with model ships with different bow shapes. From the results of the investigation, the influences of the bow shape on the powering and greenhouse gas emissions is evaluated.