Vessel Controllability in Restricted Waters

Existing knowledge of hydrodynamic factors affecting the movement of a ship in restricted waterways is critically examined to devis a scheme which would permit the application of available data on vessel controllability to the rational design of waterways. It is conditioned by the character and degree of external forces which can be applied to control the interaction. The external forces can be either active, such as rudder (and even tugboats), or passive, such as improved communications which enable quicker response to a change in navigability portion of the system, i.e., the vessel, the canal, or the controllable subsystem, affects the remainder of the system. This would reduce the reliance on empirical judgment and improve design economy.