Effect Wind & Current On Ship Handling Effect Wind & Current On Ship Handling

Effect Wind & Current on ship
handling
Compiled by
Capt. Vilas Pimpalkhare
CAPT. VVP 1
Effect of Wind
• The ship handler faces many problems but there is none
more frequently experienced and less understood than the
effect of wind.
• In open sea passage allowance given for leeway is one
aspect but one has to be very careful when vessel has
slowed down and is in river passage or anchoring or
entering locks or berthing, it can create a major difficulty.
• With or without tugs, if the problem has not been thought
out in advance, or if it is not understood how the ship will
behave in the wind, the operation can get out of control
extremely quickly.
CAPT. VVP 2
Effect of Wind
• It is frequently stated by many that 'the large funnel
right aft, acts like a huge sail'. Whilst this is to some
extent true, it simply does not explain everything
satisfactorily. It is important to look at the problem
more closely.
• Vessels such as Container and Ro-Ro ships have large
freeboard and are thus more affected by winds. This
exposed area of the ship is also known as windage
area as the effect of wind is more prominent over it.
CAPT. VVP 3
Effect of Wind
• The effect of wind on a vessel will be different
at different parts of the vessel depending
upon the draught condition.
• A wind with force of 3-4 on the Beaufort scale
will have similar effect in light condition as
with wind force of 7-8 when the ship is down
to her marks (fully loaded).
CAPT. VVP 4
Effect of Wind
• The direction of the wind perceived when
standing on deck is its relative direction. This is
the resultant of the true direction of the wind
and the course steered by the ship.
• A navigator must keep in mind how wind
affects the ship coming from different
directions relative to the ship’s head so as to
handle the ship without much difficulty.
CAPT. VVP 5
Ship underway with wind
from right ahead
• Vessel is easily steered and stopped.

• Pays off easily.
• Difficult to bring back.
• Tries to cross wind.
CAPT. VVP 6
Ship underway with wind on either of the bow
• Needs constant weather helm.

• Resulting skid adds to leeway.
• Full speed is required to swing upwind.
• Tries to cross wind.
CAPT. VVP 7
Ship underway with wind from abeam
• When the ship is underway with the wind

flowing from abeam, the steering of the ship is
not affected. However, depending on the
strength of the wind, the ship drifts sideways
due to leeway and this has to be accounted
for while handling the ship.
CAPT. VVP 8
Ship underway with wind on quarter
• When the wind is on a quarter, it pushes the

ship’s stern away to leeward. Consequentially
the stem tends to swing towards the
windward side.
• The ship is therefore steered towards the wind
and the ship is required to be given a lee
helm.
CAPT. VVP 9
Ship underway with wind from right astern
• When the wind is blowing from the right astern, steering

the ship is easy but difficult to stop due to leeway direction.
• In the case of head wind, the stern part of the ship has the
tendency to pay off on either side. This is a difficult
situation to tackle and getting the ship back on course.
• Such effect is more often seen on ships where the
accommodation area is at the aft region. Moreover, the
wind in such case has no braking effect.
• Given a choice between head wind & wind from right
astern, the head wind is preferred for berthing.
CAPT. VVP 10
Vessel under sternway
• When the ship is going astern, it rarely goes at a great speed.

When going astern most ships also tend to swing to the starboard.
The effect of the wind is therefore a little more complex.
• In ballast condition where the wind catches the bow, which it
often does, the stern is pulled into the wind. This effect is quite
definite & rapid.
• Note – This effect must be remembered while maneuvering for
anchoring, berthing etc.
• All ships turn around a pivoting point. This point is an imaginary
reference and is fixed from observations of the ship turning
around. It is known that when going astern the pivoting point
moves aft.
CAPT. VVP 11
Intentionally left blank
CAPT. VVP 12
Effect of Current
• Currents which are known, and not too strong, may
be used to advantage.
• They do not affect a ship’s handling qualities and
affect all ships equally, regardless of trim or loading.
• When handling a vessel in a current due allowance
must be made for the downstream drift of the ship,
the amount of which depends upon the strength of
the stream and the period of time during which the
ship is subjected to its influence.
• When anchored or berthed in a current the rudder
is effective due to continual flow of water past it.
CAPT. VVP 13
Effect of Current
• Slack water may be found close inshore, while reverse
currents are often experienced off pierheads and similar
projections into the stream.
• A vessel stemming the stream at slow speed may complete
the first part of her turning circle almost within her own
length as the stream runs against the vessel broadside.
• A vessel running downstream may well develop double the
speed over the ground normally attained in slack water by
the existing engine RPM, & if she is turned the radius of the
first 90° of turn is far in excess of her slack water swing.
• Great care is necessary while handling a ship running
downstream
CAPT. VVP 14
Effect of Current
• When berthing, the vessel should stem the current and will
be under easy control due to the breaking effect of the
current. When leaving the birth the uptide end has its
moorings slackened and the water running between the
quay and the ship’s side, forces the other end of the vessel
clear the quay.
• In case of open pile wharves, this effect is lost, and if the
vessel is moored heading upstream the engines will have to
be worked ahead as soon as the bow is cast off across the
stream, in order to prevent the stern fouling the piles.
• Heading downstream this situation does not arise.
CAPT. VVP 15
Effect of Current
• Even in open waters, when the ship is
approaching a rig or a mooring buoy, due
allowance should be made for the effect of the
current for a safer maneuver.
• Current coming from ahead will reduce the
ship’s speed over ground, improve ships
response to the rudder, and also give more
time to assess and correct developing
situations.
CAPT. VVP 16
Intentionally left blank
CAPT. VVP 17

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Effect Wind & Current on ship

• Vessel is easily steered and stopped.

• Needs constant weather helm.

• When the ship is underway with the wind

• When the wind is on a quarter, it pushes the

• When the wind is blowing from the right astern, steering

• When the ship is going astern, it rarely goes at a great speed.

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