Capsizing of Small Vessels in Breaking Waves

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the principal parameters of a small vessel on the likelihood of its capsizing in steep breaking waves, and to develop guidelines for the stability condition of these vessels to prevent such an occurrence Six small scale models were built to investigate the effect of length/beam, beam/depth, and depth/draught ratios on the likelihood of capsize in breaking, beam on, waves. The models were run in a single steep irregular seaway and the average time to capsize for a range of positions of vertical centre of gravity was obtained. From this it was possible to determine the effect of the various parameters on the likelihood of capsize. These results have been compared with the IMO stability criteria, based on the limiting GM value required to meet the criteria.