Numerical Study on Characteristics and Control of Heading Angle of Floating LNG Bunkering Terminal for Improvement of Loading and Off-loading Performance

In this study, heading characteristics and heading control performances were evaluated to achieve the wave shield effect. The wave shield effect originating from heading control reduces the relative motions of moored vessels in a floating liquefied natural gas bunkering terminal (FLBT). Therefore, loading and off-loading performances are improved through reduced relative motion. For the objective of this study and efficiency of the analysis, a simplified model was used that assuming no relative motion of the moored vessels in the FLBT. The simplified model involved modeling the environmental loads and inertia of several floating bodies, including FLBT, into the environmental loads and inertia of a single vessel. The simplified model was validated through comparisons with model tests. With the simplified model, heading characteristics and heading control simulations were performed using low-frequency planar motion equations. The heading characteristics and heading control performances of FLBT were analyzed through the results of simulations under the expected environmental conditions. The capacity of the tunnel thrust for the heading control performance was confirmed to be adequate for improvement of the loading and off-loading performances using the wave shielding effects under the operation conditions.