Safety of Inland Vessels Manoeuvring in Wind

Inland vessels sail in fairways characterized by constrained dimensions. This may be a critical safety aspect, in case of control system failures or human errors, if vessels are subjected to wind. Manoeuvring-related problems in such scenarios may lead to grounding, collision or allision. In this context, manoeuvring of a sample inland vessel was simulated with a three-degree-of-freedom model accounting for wind forces in a range of scenarios, considering different wind and current directions and velocities. The results of the simulations indicate maximum times available to the crew to react and keep the vessel within its designated navigational lane.