Bechtel announced the results of the Research on the Passing Effects on Ships (ROPES) project, a groundbreaking joint-industry study to improve the safety of shipping ports.
The results, unveiled at the PIANC World Congress in San Francisco , confirmed that in restricted waters, the wash from passing ships can exert large forces on moored vessels, mooring lines and fender loads, creating dangerous conditions. The research also concluded that the forces from the wash are directly influenced by the shape of the port basin, the size of the vessel, the passing distance, and the passing speed. Based on the findings, researchers have developed a software program to immediately improve the safety of ports and created guidelines for use in the planning and design of future ports.