Seakeeping tests are performed in the towing tank of SVA Potsdam. For the generation of regular waves, wave spectra and transient wave packets a hydraulic wave maker is available. Unwanted wave reflections will be absorbed by an array of wave. Beside the investigation of standard monohull ships a multitude of unconventional and spezial ships can be analysed. These includes catamarans, multihull ships, yachts, fast boats, naval vessels, cable layers, supply ships and offshore platforms.

Captive model tests

Captive model tests are performed primarily to determine the increase of resistance and the forces acting on the ship in a seaway. To this end special force balances, generators for prescribed motions and slamming generators are available. For validation purposes tests are principally executed under systematic variation of wave length, wave height, angle of encounter, motion amplitudes and frequencies.

Free running model tests

This kind of experiment is indispensable to get data about motion behaviour and accelerations and to evaluate green water, slamming, relative movements and clear braking of the propeller. The model will be fully equipped. All 6 degrees of freedom, thrust and torque will be measured to find the additional power demands in a seaway. To cover the ship motions for the full range of courses relative to the incoming long crested irregular waves of a given seaway  spectrum the tests in head and following sea are conducted at zero and non-zero speed. All other relative courses are done at rest. For oblique incoming waves the model is running on zig-zag course through head and following seas in the towing tank. Thereby angles of encounter of more than 30° can be achieved, in best cases even 50° are possible.

Special investigations

The growing demands for the development of special ships for offshore operations particularly in wind farm applications makes demands also on model basins to develop new experimental method and devices. SVA Potsdam meet these requirements by developing  tailored solutions for its customers. Another focal point is laid upon the improvement of the roll behaviour of ships. Therefore investigations of active fins, rudders, Voith-Schneider devices etc. are a common task in the optimisation of these kinds of devices.

Measuring equipment

For the measurements of motions in seaways a cutting-edge „visual motion capture“ system from QUALISYS has been available at SVA Potsdam since 2009. This system allows to capture coupled motions in 6 degrees of freedom and to calculate velocities and accelerations of the model and predefined locations on it.



The main advantage compared to the conventional method is the total absence of wires connecting the model to the towing carriage, i.e. the measurements are completely non-intrusive. The statistical evaluation of the measured time series is accomplished with in-house developed software.

Theoretical investigations

For supplementary calculations of seaways and numerical simulations of seakeeping behaviour of situations that cannot be tested with a model the software package UTHLANDE is available at SVA Potsdam. This package was developed in cooperation with several German institutes. On the basis of linear and non-linear strip theory the calculation of loads on monohulls and catamarans and their motions in 6 degrees of freedom can be performed. As a result one gets statistical data (short and long term) for long and short crested seaways and a corresponding plot of cartesian or polar diagrams resp. an animation on basis of a “ship motion viewer”.