Influence of Key Design Parameters on the Stability of Suspension Ships

Abstract

This study presents a stability analysis of suspension ships, with a specific focus on assessing how the key design parameters influence the ship’s stability. These parameters include the total mass, mass ratio, beam of ship, spring stiffness, allowable travel, and ride height of the suspension system. The stability analysis is performed based on a hydrostatic force model and a static analysis model including the suspension deflection induced by ship inclination and load variations on the cabin. The present numerical method is verified by a sensitivity study of hull surface discretization and comparisons of the initial and intact stability obtained using Orca3D. Numerical results show that the coupling effect of the heeling and trimming occurs when the total mass of the suspension ship exceeds a critical value. An increasing mass ratio significantly reduces the righting arm (GZ) and increases trim, while spring stiffness, allowable travel, and ride height have relatively less influence on the initial and intact stability of the suspension ship. The proper total mass of the investigated ship is suggested to be 95 to 125 tonnes based on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) intact stability resolution and total mass threshold defined in this study. A dynamic stability analysis based on IMO weather criterion indicates that the mass ratio should not exceed 0.75. In damaged conditions, flooding can intensify heel-trim coupling due to the added weight of floodwater, further deteriorating the ship’s damage stability. This study provides new insights into the stability characteristics of suspension ships, highlighting the effects of suspension parameters that differentiate suspension ships from conventional ships.

Keywords

Marine suspension / Stability analysis / Ship design / Crew transfer vessel / Catamaran

References

[1] AlaviMehr J, Lavroff J, Davis M, Holloway D, Thomas G. An experimental investigation on slamming kinematics, impulse and energy transfer for high-speed catamarans equipped with Ride Control Systems. Ocean Engineering, 2019, 178: 410-412

[2] Alsalah A, Holloway D, Lavroff J. Reducing wave impacts on high-speed catamarans through deployment of ride control: Analysis of full-scale measurements. Ocean Engineering, 2024, 292: 116581

[3] Bulian G, Cardinale M, Francescutto A, Zaraphonitis G. Complementing SOLAS damage ship stability framework with a probabilistic description for the extent of collision damage below the waterline. Ocean Engineering, 2019, 186: 106073

[4] Chen BF, Yang BH. Experimental study of a hybrid TMD and TLD on structure motion reduction. Ocean. Engineering, 2018, 165: 538-549

[5] Conti U, Gundersen M. Second generation design of wave adaptive modular vessels (WAM-V^®): a technical discussion of design improvements. Proceedings of 11th International Conference on Fast Sea Transportation, 2011772776

[6] Francescutto A. Intact stability criteria of ships–Past, present and future. Ocean Engineering, 2016, 120: 312-317

[7] Han J, Kanno S, Mochizuki A, Kitazawa D, Maeda T, Itakura H. Study on attitude control of a cabin-suspended catamaran by using a double-loop control system. Proceedings of the ASME 2019 38th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, 2019, 9: 95827Glasgow, UK

[8] Han J, Kitazawa D, Kinoshita T, Maeda T, Itakura H. Experimental investigation on a cabin-suspended catamaran in terms of motion reduction and wave energy harvesting by means of a semi-active motion control system. Applied Ocean Research, 2019, 83: 88-102

[9] Han J, Maeda T, Itakura H, Kitazawa D. Experimental study on the wave energy harvesting performance of a small suspension catamaran exploiting the maximum power point tracking approach. Ocean Engineering, 2022, 243: 110176

[10] Han J, Maeda T, Itakura H, Kitazawa D. Experimental study on the motion reduction performance of a small suspension catamaran exploiting an active skyhook control strategy. Ocean Engineering, 2023, 281: 114642

[11] Han J, Murai M. A parametric study on the initial transverse stability of suspension ships. 2023 IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 2023, 1294: 012021 Stavanger, Norway

[12] IMO (1986) Resolution A. 562(14)–Recommendation on a severe wind and rolling criterion (weather criterion) for the intact stability of passenger and cargo ships of 24 meters in length and over. Available from https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/AssemblyDocuments/A.562(14).pdf [Accessed on Jan. 22, 2025]

[13] IMO (2006) MSC. 1/Circ. 1200–Interim guidelines for alternative assessment of the weather criterion.

[14] IMO (2008) Resolution MSC. 267(85)–Adoption of the international code on intact stability, 2008 (2008 is code). Available from https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.267(85).pdf [Accessed on Jan. 22, 2025]

[15] IMO (2020) Resolution MSC.429(98)–Revised explanatory notes to the SOLAS Chapter II-1 Subdivision and damage stability regulations. Available from https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.429(98)%20Rev.1.pdf [Accessed on Jan. 22, 2025]

[16] Jiang Y, Ding Y, Sun Y, Shao Y, Sun L. Influence of bilge-keel configuration on ship roll damping and roll response in waves. Ocean Engineering, 2020, 216: 107539

[17] Jiang Y, Bai J, Liu S, Zong Z, Li P. Experimental investigation of T-foil hybrid control strategy for ship motion reduction in head seas. Ocean Engineering, 2022, 243: 110251

[18] Liang L, Zhao P, Zhang S, Ji M, Yuan J. Simulation analysis of fin stabilizer on ship roll control during turning motion. Ocean Engineering, 2018, 164: 733-748

[19] Liang L, Zhao P, Zhang S, Yuan J. Simulation analysis of fin stabilizers on turning circle control during ship turns. Ocean Engineering, 2019, 173: 174-182

[20] Liang L, Cheng Q, Cai P. Design of fin stabilizer controller during ship zig-zag motion. Ocean Engineering, 2022, 252: 111049

[21] Lin J, Han Y, Guo C, Su Y, Zhong R. Intelligent ship anti-rolling control system based on a deep deterministic policy gradient algorithm and the Magnus effect. Physics of Fluids, 2022, 34(5057102

[22] Liu J, Liu Z. Finite-time block backstepping control for rudder roll stabilization with input constraints. Ocean Engineering, 2024, 295: 116989

[23] Mauro F, Vassalos D, Paterson D, Boulougouris E. Exploring smart methodologies for critical flooding scenarios detection in the damage stability assessment of passenger ships. Ocean Engineering, 2022, 262: 112289

[24] Mohtavipour SM, Ehsan TZ, Abeshoori HJ, Mollajafari M. Smooth longitudinal driving strategy with adjustable nonlinear reference model for autonomous vehicles. International Journal of Dynamics and Control, 2023, 11: 2320-2334

[25] Mollajafari M, Nejad SE. Recent advancements in automotive engineering by using evolutionary algorithms and nature-inspired heuristic optimization. Vehicle Technology and Automotive Engineering, 2025

[26] Nauti-Craft marine suspension technology, https://www.nauti-craft.com/marine-suspension/[Accessed on Nov. 5, 2023]

[27] Ocean Power Technologies, https://oceanpowertechnologies.com/products/unmanned-surface-vehicles/wam-v-16/[Accessed on Nov. 5, 2023]

[28] Qi J, Chai W, Sinsabvarodom C, Cui M, Dou X, Zhu T, Ji S. Static and dynamic stability of a polar ship in the arctic region with ice accumulation. Ocean Engineering, 2025, 319: 120218

[29] Servo-yachts, https://www.servo-yachts.com/press [Accessed on Nov. 5, 2023]

[30] Sun M, Lian H, Luan T, Zhang X, Wu B, Wang H. Lift analysis and anti-rolling control system design of Magnus rotating roll stabilizer at full speed range. Ocean Engineering, 2023, 290: 116331

[31] Sun X, Ni Y, Liu C, Wang Z, Yin Y. A practical method for stability assessment of a damaged ship. Ocean Engineering, 2021, 222: 108594

[32] Wave Adaptive Modular Vehicle®, https://wam-v.com/[Accessed on Nov. 5, 2023]

[33] Wen X, Zhang J, Conde AG, Ong MC. Numerical study on the automatic ballast control of a floating dock. Journal of Offshore Mechanics & Arctic Engineering, 2023, 146(4041401

[34] Wen X, Conde AG, Zhang J, Ong MC. Dynamic analysis of a floating dock under accidental conditions. Applied Ocean Research, 2024, 144: 103908

[35] Zhang J, Wen X, Kniat A, Ong MC. A comparative analysis of numerically simulated and experimentally measured static responses of a floating dock. Ships and Offshore Structures, 2025, 20: 329-346

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

The Author(s)

Just Accepted

This article has successfully passed peer review and final editorial review, and will soon enter typesetting, proofreading and other publishing processes. The currently displayed version is the accepted final manuscript. The officially published version will be updated with format, DOI and citation information upon launch. We recommend that you pay attention to subsequent journal notifications and preferentially cite the officially published version. Thank you for your support and cooperation.