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Note: MOPS

Abstract: Nowadays many shipyards have their own floating docks. In view of all the challenging projects these days, many yards have to produce designs which are close to or even beyond the structural limits of their docking facilities. This paper presents a first principle based method to calculate the key numeric values to extend the scope of application of floating docks and platforms. The method calculates the hydrostatic stable equilibrium of the interacting bodies for selected floating situations. The subsequent structural calculations with non-linear wood layers result in the block force distribution. Moreover, the resulting deflection lines of ship and dock are considered in the hydrostatic calculations. The modified buoyancy distribution is then included in the structural calculations. Therefore, the described method provides a useful tool to minimize local and global stresses and deformations of the interacting bodies during the docking procedure by fast optimization of the block system arrangement and the ballasting sequences.