GHS Port Reference Center
Information for maritime designers, engineers and builders
Maintained by Creative Systems, Inc., Creators of GHS
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GHS Features Summary

    Scope of Application

  • General Hydrostatics/stability/strength -- applies to all ships of any size, type and any floating structure
  • Vessel design -- easy model building and modification; simulation-oriented calculations
  • Trim and Stability book preparation -- all required calculations and graphs
  • Onboard Loading Computer -- customized and packaged to support on-board vessel operations; configurable by GHS user
  • Drilling unit stability -- rig wizard for finding critical axis, automated max VCG intact and damaged
  • Hopper dredge stability -- mud lag and water-over-cargo
  • Salvage applications -- accurate simulation with grounding, pulling, pressurized tanks; multiple bodies
  • Oil-spill calculations -- amount of oil spilled based on observed condition of vessel
  • Tonnage -- Component volume reports for International Tonnage
  • Launching calculations -- ship interaction with ways and water, automated sequencing of launching steps through the macro command language
  • Grain loading -- treats grain shift either in specially-constructed bulk holds or general cargo holds
  • Drydocking calculations -- easily-combined ship and dock geometry; graving dock grounding, block crushing force; multi-body application
  • Submarines -- critical GM vs tank load (optional AF module); resolving load imbalances
  • General-purpose task automation -- many file and text processing operations can be automated using GHS -- this html page is GHS output!

    • Geometric Modeling Tools

  • Hull modeling tools -- digitizing and offset input/editing
  • Tank modeling -- parametric - powerful and efficient
  • Complex models -- multi-level geometry structure facilitates complex modeling
  • Model detailing support -- deck camber, shell thickness, appendages, deductions, sounding tubes, etc.
  • Deck edge and margin definition -- automatic and editable deck edge; linear or parabolic margin distances
  • Wind drag details -- shape and effectiveness coefficients at component level
  • Import/export -- several formats supported: DXF, IDF, SHCP, etc.
  • Geometry viewing and editing -- various views, complete detail

    • Calculating Essentials

  • Standard curves -- curves of hydrostatic properties, cross curves, righting-arm curves, max VCG curves, etc.
  • Load condition reports -- flexible status reports displaying all information at various levels
  • Condition Graphics -- flexible plan, profile, body views showing current loads and waterplanes (optional CG module)
  • Free surface treatment -- actual CG shifts or free surface moments (FSM)
  • Free surface moments -- True, maximum or user-specified; also FSM floors
  • Deflection -- hog and sag derived from given drafts; or bending analysis (with optional LS module)
  • Inclining -- complete displacement and CG calculation from inclining data; inclining wizard
  • Intact stability -- righting arm curves for load cases
  • Damage stability -- lost buoyancy -- otherwise same as intact
  • Probabilistic damage -- Several versions including latest cargo and passenger rules with user-supplied PS methods (optional AF module)
  • Stability criteria -- flexible and comprehensive
  • Roll angles -- direct input or by IMO formula
  • Critical points -- flooding and weathertight, one side or symmetrical
  • Freeboard -- minimum distance to deck edge with and without margin
  • Lateral plane and Wind plane -- heeling moment derivations
  • Heeling moments, wind -- wind forces derived from geometry -- lateral plane or projection in any direction (respecting heel, trim draft and axis)
  • Heeling moments, tank -- simulating water on deck, grain shift
  • Heeling moments, other -- from turning, CG shift, direct input
  • Water on deck -- several methods address various regulations
  • Waves -- several types, adjustable height, length, phase and encounter
  • Maximum VCG -- curves or individual condition; also import of Max VCG/min GM
  • Intermediate flooding -- Support for flooding in stages using added weight in tanks
  • Grounding -- Up to 50 ground points allowing detailed ground models
  • Adjustable heeling axis -- supports finding most critical axis of drilling units
  • Floodable lengths -- Compartment lengths limited by margin line or GM (optional FL module)
  • Longitudinal Strength -- shear, bending moment, deflection, torque (optional LS module)
  • Tank characteristics -- Tables and plots of tank properties
  • Tank Soundings -- several flexible formats - soundings, ullages (optional TS module)

    • Special Calculations

  • Variable axis mode -- RA curves and max VCG with variable axis for structures without a definite critical axis.
  • Grain loading -- using girder depth and distance
  • Grain Shifting -- volumetric heeling moments from complex grain shift (optional GS module)
  • Damage control -- simulation of effects of counter flooding, etc.
  • Multi-body interactions -- several floating bodies with points of interaction, latched or free to lift off (optional MB module)
  • Multiple tank modes -- intact, flooding, spilling, damaged, bubble, WDF, deck water, frozen
  • Tank calibration -- using tank property tables from an external source
  • Tank gauging -- interface to tank instrumentation - several protocols available
  • Expansion of oil -- volume expansion due to temperature changes
  • API petroleum density -- density via API degrees and temperature - gross and net volumes
  • Trimming moment -- direct input, various functions
  • Thruster simulation -- side thrusts contributing to heeling moments and weight/buoyancy forces
  • Pull simulation -- arbitrary force in any direction contributes to heeling and trimming moments as well as weight/buoyancy forces

    • Input Faculties

  • Command language -- powerful, efficient macro language
  • User variables -- allowing complete control of run and special calculations
  • Templates -- user-programmable dialog boxes and wizards
  • Load Editor -- interactive tank and nonliquid load changing with graphical displays
  • Project system -- project folder management

    • Output - Reporting

  • Flexibility -- user-controlled report sequences and variations
  • Annotation -- includes user-formatted calculations and reports
  • Optional styles -- plain and fancy
  • Graphs in reports -- automatic graph generation
  • User-designed graphs -- plotting curves from any data -- unlimited possibilities
  • Report preview -- on-screen preview of report with graphs
  • Report exporting -- copy-and-paste text and graphs, PDF-Machine compatible
  • Report sharing -- GHS reports with graphics can be viewed and printed from any computer using the free GHSPublicPrint.exe program

    • Support

  • Documentation -- complete, accurate, usable - printed and on screen
  • Support -- fast and knowledgeable
  • Training -- Available as needed
  • Recognition -- widely accepted; excellent reputation for accuracy
  • Endorsement -- ABS, Lloyds, DNV and others
  • Programming Interface -- Allows user-developed plug-ins (optional PI module)
  • GHSCOM -- allows any program using Microsoft COM technology to interact with the GHS engine (optional GHSCOM module)
  • Operating system -- Windows, any recent version; Apple adaptation; versions for older OS available
  • Security -- USB, parallel-port and server dongles
  • Companion software -- midship section calculator by VSW
  • CAD direct to GHS -- Rhino exporter to GHS Geometry

Copyright (C) 2006, Creative Systems, Inc.