Collection of Berthing Velocities and Resulting Design Recommendations by PIANC Working Group MarCom 145

PIANC guidelines for fender design (Report of PIANC MarCom Working Group 33-Guidelines for the Design of Fender Systems) was published in 2002 and reported vessel approach velocities based on research conducted by Baker in 1953, Brolsma in 1977, and the most recent data used by the British Standard on Fenders (BS6349-4: 1994 - Maritime Structures - Part 4: Code of practice for design of fendering and mooring systems). Recommendations presented in the 2002 report lack clear guidance for newer, larger vessels. MarCom Working Group 145, Berthing Velocities and Fender Design, executed an extensive data collection program that focused on gathering actual recorded vessel approach velocities under a range of environmental conditions in port facilities around the world, including the United States, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain. The working group is producing a report that will provide clear guidance to fender system designers. The United States' portion of the study, funded by a grant from Coasts, Oceans, Ports & Rivers Institute (COPRI), has focused on the collection of berthing velocities from several public ports in the United States that represent typical conditions on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts. The study has involved on-site collection of velocities using portable laser equipment and pilot navigation software for a series of berthings at each site. The data collected in the United States has been compiled with measurements from similar studies undertaken in other countries. It has then been analyzed to provide design recommendations based on vessel type and size, sheltered vs. exposed berths, and berthing conditions. The resulting working group publication will provide recommendations for occasions when site-specific measurements are not available and occasions when studies are undertaken for specific berths. This paper summarizes the scope of the data collection program; the methods of data collection; the results of an initial analysis of approach velocities collected in the program to date; and design recommendations.