How This Simple but Genius Test Saves Billion of $ During Heavy Storms

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Don’t Rock The Boat

Today’s cargo ships are among the largest vessels ever made and can carry up to 24,000 containers at once. Computerized design and testing are done to improve these vessels’ efficiency, reducing the chances of their cargo getting lost at sea. 

Still, crossing vast waters puts container ships at risk of encountering heavy storms that could potentially lead to losses in cargo. To prevent that from happening,  Maritime Research Institute Netherlands or MARIN recreated the exact wind and wave conditions that would cause storm-related accidents before. They used ship models placed in wave-simulating chambers to visualize each incident in a controlled environment. 

Eventually, the results of the tests showed that large-scale container ships (over 180ft wide) are the most stable as they return to equilibrium as fast as possible.