URANS prediction of hydrodynamic interaction between LHD and supply vessel during replenishment in calm water

Replenishment at Sea (RAS) is used extensively for transferring fuel and supplies while two ships are underway. It is crucial for naval vessels that require prolonged endurance while minimising the weight of the vessels. It eliminates the need of returning to ports for refilling. When the ships are to manoeuvre adjacent to each other towards the same direction at constant speed, hydrodynamic forces will form in between the ships due to the close proximity and thus affect the manoeuvring capability of the vessels. The ships may experience a force which attracts them towards or repels them away from each other. This increases the risk of collision or capsize if care is not taken during the operation. Therefore, it is important to investigate ship to ship interactions in order to develop an applicable solution for safe operations.