Business and Finance

PIANC Releases New Harbor Channel Guidelines

In January the PIANC MarCom Working Group 121 released Harbour Approach Channels – Design Guidelines to provide recommendations for the design of vertical and horizontal dimensions of harbor approach channels and the maneuvering and anchorage areas within harbors.

The PIANC report supersedes
and replaces the joint PIANC-IAPH report Approach Channels – A Guide for Design published in 1997 by PIANC MarCom Working Group 30 in cooperation with IAPH (International Association of Ports & Harbours) IMPA (International Maritime Pilots Association) and IALA (International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities). This report has been widely accepted worldwide by port designers. This new report has again been compiled in close co-operation with IAPH IMPA and IALA.

The objectives of the working group were to review update and where appropriate expand on the design recommendations on vertical and horizontal dimensioning as presented in the 1997 report. Recent developments in ship design and wave behavior and further research in ship maneuverability and ship simulation and modeling required a comprehensive update to the 1997 report.

The working group paid particular attention to: the vertical motions of ships in approach channels (due to squat wave-induced motions dynamic effects); air draught for vertical clearances under bridges and overhead cables; horizontal dimensions of channels and maneuvering areas; simulation of ships in channels; new and future generation ship dimensions/maneuvering characteristics; wind effect on ship navigation and maneuvering; human errors and project uncertainties; environmental issues; safety criteria assessment of levels of risk and appropriate clearance margins.

The report also includes guidelines for establishing depth and width requirements along with vertical bridge clearances. All sizes of approach channels for commercial shipping are considered in this report; problems of planning for small coasters in a small port may be as great as those for a large tanker at an oil terminal.

To order or for more information contact the PIANC General Secretariat; Bâtiment Graaf de Ferraris – 11ième étage; Blvd. du Roi Albert II 20 – Boîte 3; B-1000 Brussels Belgium . Phone: +32 2 553 71 61; fax: + 32 2 553 71 55; email: info@pianc.org; Web: www.pianc.org/technicalreportsbrowseall.php.

330 pages; PDF format; € 150.00; PIANC MarCom Working Group 121