NAVIGATION IN MUDDY AREAS: ESTABLISHING THE NAVIGABLE DEPTH IN THE PORT OFZEEBRUGGE

Oct 13, 2026

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Study on establishing safe navigable depth in Zeebrugge for fluid mud conditions through a comprehensive research program combining laboratory sediment testing, in-situ measurements, full-scale trials with a trailing suction hopper dredger, and model and ship-model experiments. Laboratory work covers conventional and newly developed rheological tests to describe mud structural behavior, supported by equipment such as the Navitracker and rheometric profiler. Recorded data from Vlaanderen XVII trials are analyzed to characterize acceleration, deceleration, and steady-state phenomena, producing a combined echosounding-density nautical chart using the safe 1.15 tm³ density level.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time6 min

AccessFree to download

ABSTRACT

1. INTRODUCTION

2. PHYSIO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE ZEEBRUGGE MUD

2.1. Mineralogy

# NAVIGATION IN MUDDY AREAS: ESTABLISHING THE NAVIGABLE DEPTH IN THE PORT OFZEEBRUGGE by Drs.K.van Craenenbroeck(1)Dr.ir.M.Vantorre(2)Ir.P.De Wolf (3) ## ABSTRACT. The navigable depth in Zeebrugge,which is actually situated at the 1.15 tm³densitylevel,was established during an extensive research program,which inciuded: -laboratory testing of sediment properties; ·in-situ measurements of sediment properties; -full scale trials with a trailing suction hopper dredger; small scale tests modelling the full scale trials and systematic ship model test series. The paper contains an/'short description of the laboratory tests,including conventio-nal and newly developed tests for the determination of the structural behaviour ofthe mud,such as rotaviscometry,and Controlled Stress Rheometry. Further,a very short description of the equipment developed for the in-situ measure-ment of sediment properties,such as the towed density gauge Navitracker and therheometric profiler Rheometer is given. More attention is paid to the analysis of data recorded during full scale trials with thetrailing suction hopper dredger Vlaanderen XVII.Acceleration,deceleration andsteady-state phenomena observed in the presence of fluid mud are described.Thesetests are backed up and placed in a more general framework by model tests.theresults of which are also discussed more extensively. The implementation of the results obtained during the research program resulted inthe production of a nautical chart,which is a combined echosounding-density chart,representing: -the depth of the 210 kHz echosounder in cases where the mud is absent; -the depth of the 1.15 tm³density level in muddy areas,this level being a safecriterion for the navigable depth in Zeebrugge. (1) Project manager,Silt N.V.,Tijdokstraat 28,8380 Zeebrugge,Belgium (2)Research Associate,National Fund for Scientific Research,RUG (State University of Ghent),Office of Naval Architecture,Grote Steenweg Noord 2,9052 Gent-Zwijnaarde,Belgium (3) Chief engineer,Ministry of the Flemish Executive,Department of the Environment andInfrastructure,Coastal Harbours Services,Vrijhavenstraat 3,8400 Oostende,Belgium NOMENCLATURE aaccelerationAPaft perpendicularship's beamresistance coefficient CCBdF。FPgh:k block coeficient(=▽÷(LBd))ship's draught Froude number(=V÷(gL)”fore perpendiculargravitational accelerationthickness (depth)of layer ihorse powerform factorKcorrection factorKCkeel clearance (in m or in %ofdraught)relative to interface(210 kHz)Lship's length between perpendicularsmship's massNyawing moment nnumber of revolutions of propellerPpropulsive powerP/Dpropeller pitch÷diameter ratiorrate of turn(yawing velocity)Rresistanceship's wetted surfacepropeller thrust[time;thrust deduction factorTCE/P trichlorethane/petrol mixturerelative horizontal velocity of layer iship's forward velocity▽ship's displacement ST hV lateral force componentpercentage by weight Y level of upper boundary of layer irudder angle(ship's sinkageθship's trim Z9 added mass coefficient k3 undim’d distance from FP to jumpPimass density of layer iTyyield stress Subscripts critcriticalFfrictional (resistance)J(interface)jumpMmodelmmean▽ship's displacement(correction)PVviscous pressure (resistance)Rresistance(correction)Ttotal (resistance)Ththrust(correction)Wrelative to the water(velocity)0reference loading conditionreferring to fluid layer 1(water)referring to fluid layer 2(mud)deep water condition 工 2 Superscripts , nondimensional ## 1.INTRODUCTION Zeebrugge is a recently extended sea port on the Belgian Coast (fig.1).Maintenancedredging operations are carried out: -in the access channel to the Port of Antwerp,called 'het Scheur', -in the access channel to the New Outer Harbour,called ’Pas van het Zand', -in the Central Part of the New Outer Harbour,and in the old part of the Outer Harbour. In the access channels,the bottom generally consists of fine sand

FAQs

What is the main goal of the research described in the paper?

To establish a safe navigable depth in Zeebrugge muddy areas and produce a nautical chart that reflects this criterion.

Which methods are used to determine navigability under fluid mud conditions?

Laboratory sediment testing, in-situ sediment measurements, full-scale trailing suction hopper dredger trials, and model/ship-model tests are combined.

How is safe navigable depth represented on the resulting nautical chart?

As a combined echosounding-density chart: the 210 kHz echosounder depth where mud is absent, and the depth of the 1.15 tm³ density level in muddy areas.

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by Mabel