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General HydroStatics
Ship Stability Software |
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Command of the Week
(New or interesting aspects of GHS that you may not know about) |
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GHS Load Monitor
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| GHS Load Monitor is a ship-specific software program which makes it easier to safely operate a vessel. The core GLM is configured to evaluate the stability and strength of different load conditions. Depending on the complexity of the vessel, the stability evaluation can be as simple as a lookup against a curve of maximum VCG values, or as complex as performing direct assessment of damage cases with cranes lifting heavy loads over the side. |
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GLM uses the same model of the ship as GHS and all calculations are performed using the same underlying hydrostatics engine that you've trusted for years. Therefore, you can expect the results from the on-board version will exactly match the approved T&S booklet (assuming GHS was used during its preparation). The 3D model of the ship and tanks gives accurate results for a wide range of heel and trim angles and permits flooding, longitudinal strength, and even grounding calculations.
A GLM is configured by a naval architect familiar with the vessel's stability requirements using the GLM configuration wizard. Ideally, it would be the same organization that prepared the T&S booklet. COW041 discussed a subset of the wizard's features. Weight entry is by means of a spreadsheet type interface. The configuring naval architect will typically supply the GLM with a set of initial added weights that would be expected aboard the vessel. The operator can of course add or remove weights as necessary to match the current condition. The Tanks tab lets the operator specify contents and load for each tank. Tank soundings can be entered manually, or if Sensor Interface is configured, tank loads will be set automatically according to the data from the ship's tank level sensors. In the rare occasion that a vessel's tanks can be rearranged, the GLM supports switching between different tank configurations easily. |
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| As a reality check for a condition, the operator can enter the current draft readings into the Verify Drafts dialog, which is shown below. This is a simple deadweight survey where the weight accounting in the condition is compared against the immersed volume predicted by the drafts and the difference is reported as either a WEIGHT EXCESS or a WEIGHT NEEDED. The amount of the difference and the location are provided to aid the crew in tracking down the unaccounted for objects on the vessel. |
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| The primary deliverable of the GLM to the operator is a set of all the past conditions and their evaluations. A means of saving and naming each condition is provided as well a way to retrieve them. Once a condition is finalized, the Reports button provides all the options needed to record the evaluation of the condition. |
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| So if you are a naval architect, consider configuring your clients a GLM today! And if you are a vessel operator company, ask your naval architect about getting a GHS Load Monitor for your vessels. |
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Questions, comments, or requests?
Contact Creative Systems, Inc. USA phone: 360-385-6212 Fax: 360-385-6213 Office hours: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm Pacific Time, Monday - Friday Mailing address: PO Box 1910 Port Townsend, WA 98368 USA Click here for an index to this and previous COWs |