Shaping Maritime Leaders of the Future

CHAPTER D

SHALLOW WATER

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SHALLOW WATER

2 X DRAFT

DEPTH LESS THAN TWICE THE DRAFT

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SHALLOW WATER EFFECTS

In shallow waters, following effects may be evident:

a. Sluggish movement
b. Increased vibration
c. Erratic steering
d. Smelling the ground
e. Squat
f. Bow cushion and bank suction effect

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a. Sluggish movement

• As the hull moves along the water, the water which is

displaced is not instantly replaced by surrounding
water.

• A partial vacuum is created.

• The vessel takes longer to answer helm.

• Response to engine movement becomes sluggish.

• Speed reduces.

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b. Increased vibration

• In shallow water vibrations will be set up.

• It becomes very difficult to correct a yaw or

sheer with any degree of rapidity.

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c. Erratic steering

• Steering becomes erratic.

• Rate of turning is reduced.

• Turning circle becomes larger.

• Loss of speed due to turning is less in shallow

water.

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d. Smelling the ground

• Occurs when a ship is nearing an extremely

shallow depth of water, such as a shoal.

• The ship likely to take a sudden sheer.

• The sheer is first towards the shallow, then

violently away from it.

• The movements of a sluggish ship may suddenly

become astonishingly lively.

• These effects are called smelling the ground.

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e. Squat

• Squat is the reduction of a vessels under keel

clearance (UKC), caused by the relative movement of
the ship’s hull through the surrounding body of water.

• Squat occurs when a vessel is making speed through

the water. Generally, squat is proportional to the
square of the speed. Thus reduction in speed will lead
to corresponding reduction in squat.

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e. SQUAT (contd)

• When there is limited UKC the restriction in the velocity of

the water flow causes a drop in pressure.

• This reduces the buoyancy force of the v/l. Since the

weight of the ship is unchanged, the v/l will tend to sink
further thereby increasing draught in order to resolve
equilibrium.

• There is also likely to be a change in trim because the LCB

is likely to change thereby creating a trimming moment

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To Maritime
Be A World
Leaders
Class Maritime
of the Future
Academy
18-1

SQUAT

P
Low pressure

Creates loss of
buoyancy
Normal steering lever

Bow sinks down

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To Maritime
Be A World
Leaders
Class Maritime
of the Future
Academy
18-2

SQUAT

PP P

Reduced steering lever

A shear may develop
+ + +
+
PP P

Poor response to
helm likely

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Factors governing squat

1. Ship's speed:
Squat is directly proportional to the square of speed.
Squat ∞ V2 (V=speed in knots)

2. Block co-efficient (CB) :

Squat varies directly with CB.
Squat ∞ CB

3. Blockage factor (S):

This is the ratio of the ship’s underwater cross section to the cross
section of the sea area (canal or river).
In confined water, squat is more than in open water.

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3. Blockage factor (S) :

d
D

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3. Blockage factor (S):

Blockage factor (S) = b x d

B D

Example
Let b=45’ ; B=100’; d=26’; D=78’

Thus Blockage factor (S) = 45 x 26 = 0.15

100 78

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Simplified Squat formula

Squat may be calculated by the following simplified

formulae:

Squat = (CB X V2 ) / 100 (in open waters)

Squat = 2 X (CB X V2 ) / 100 (in confined waters)

Where CB is the Block Coefficient

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SQUAT AND SPEED RELATIONSHIP

• This, of course, provides a further limit on speed in

shallow water, consideration of grounding due to
squat being especially important if the under-keel
clearance is 10% or less of the draught and the
speed is 70% or more of the limiting speed.

• In shallow water, squat can be estimated by

adding 10% to the draught or 0.3 metres for every
5 knots of speed.

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f. Bow cushion & bank suction effect

➢Occurs in narrow channels near proximities of banks.

➢Bow cushion-tendency for bow to be pushed away from the
bank.
➢Bank suction-ship moves bodily towards the bank, which
appears at the stern.
➢Caused by restricted flow of water on the bank's side.
➢Velocity of water to the bank increases and pressure reduces.
➢Results in drop of water level towards the bank.
➢As a result, a thrust is set up towards bank.
➢A vessel approaching to the bank will have to apply helm to
the bank and reduce speed to prevent the sheer from
developing.

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Bow cushion and bank suction effect

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Bank suction

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