Ports & Harbours, Shipyards & Terminals

Our Ports & Harbour team specialise in providing Port Capacity and Operational Simulation studies. Utilising our dual purpose software package BRAEVURA ©, we are able to accurately model existing and future traffic flows using AIS data to predict port capacity, berth utilisations and to assess the effects on marine traffic of proposed modifications such as the introduction of new berths, vessel types or navigation rules.

We undertake detailed Mooring and Berthing analysis of vessels to optimise mooring patterns and fendering arrangements and  identify limiting environmental conditions for specific berths. We also assess passing vessel effects and provide guidance on minimum separation distances and speed limitations.

Fast time and real time Vessel Manoeuvring studies identify arrival and departure environmental limits and tug requirements. We also offer pilot training services using a full mission simulator.

Our design support services include; assisting designers with port and berth developments covering aspects such as mooring and fendering arrangements, channel and turning circle design, manoeuvring analysis and operational simulation.

Our services in this area include:

Marine Risk:

  • Chairing and facilitating marine HAZIDs
  • Quantitative Risk Analysis assessing the frequency and consequence of:
  • Collisions
  • Allisions
  • Groundings
  • Dropped objects
  • Anchors striking pipelines and subsea cables
  • Cost Benefit Studies

Mooring and fendering – We undertake detailed mooring and berthing analysis of vessels to optimise mooring patterns and fendering arrangements and identify limiting environmental conditions for specific berths. We also assess passing vessel effects and provide guidance on minimum separation distances and speed limitations.

Port Capacity Studies, Operation Simulation – Using our software routines we model existing and future traffic flows to predict port capacity and berth utilisations and to assess the effects on marine traffic of proposed modifications such as the introduction of new berths, vessel types or navigation rules (e.g. the introduction of one way traffic, speed limitations).

Vessel Maneuvering – We undertake fast time and real time maneuvering studies to identify arrival and departure environmental limits and tug requirements. We also offer pilot training services using a full mission simulator.

Unsafe berths and ports – We routinely act on unsafe berth and unsafe port disputes offering guidance on the suitability of a berth’s arrangements for a particular ship and on the suitability of a port’s s operational procedures, pilotage arrangements, VTS etc

Design Support – Our design support services include; assisting designers with port and berth developments covering aspects such as mooring and fendering arrangements, channel and turning circle design, manoeuvring analysis and operational simulation.

Technical due diligence – We undertake technical due diligence studies on behalf of port financiers covering aspects such as feasibility assessments, risk assessment, competency reviews, operating and maintenance procedure reviews, emergency planning reviews etc.

Marine Incidents and expert opinion – Our multi-discipline team routinely undertake investigations of marine incidents such as groundings, collisions and allisions as well as providing expert opinion services for court hearings, arbitration and mediation. Using our sophisticated in-house software tools we analyse VDR, AIS and ECDIS data to recreate the incidents using 3D animations.

Specialist Forensic Consultancy – We have a wide range of associates who assist in the provision of specialist services on our consulting projects. These skills & specialisms include;

  • Metallurgy
  • Post Harvest Foodstuff Analysis & Investigation
  • Forensic Materials Testing
  • Fuel Analysis

BRAEVURA© Risk Analysis, Operational Simulation and Incident Investigation

Risk analysis – BRAEVURA© uses AIS data to model shipping traffic in a waterway. BRAEVURA© is used to analyse both present scenarios and future scenarios, to investigate how the introduction of, for example, a berth or a wind farm will affect the navigational risk. Various vessel routes, categories, drafts and sizes can be modelled for a given study area. Ship to ship encounters are identified by area and by traffic routes and presented on a navigational chart to show high and low density areas and risk hotspots.

Grounding risk analysis is undertaken using Monte Carlo simulation techniques which perform several thousand iterations so that the probability distribution of Closest Point of Approach (CPA) to the structure of interest can be determined. The distribution of impact energies is also calculated to assist with the efficient design of structures.

The key modelling and analysis features of BRAEVURA© risk analysis are:

  • Ship to ship collision risk
  • Ship to fixed structure allision risk
  • Grounding risk
  • Use of AIS data
  • Vessel routes and volumes
  • Present and future cases
  • Onscreen animation of encounters
  • Analysis of vessel drift behavior
  • Risk to fixed structures, moored vessels, pipelines and subsea cables
  • Modelling engine failures, steering failures and human error
  • Anchor and anchor deployment modelling
  • Incident investigation to identify parameters such as speed, heading and course

Operational Simulation – The modular setup of BRAEVURA© allows operational simulation to be undertaken either as a separate analysis or as an extension of a risk assessment, thereby minimizing modelling costs

For enquiries relating to issues surrounding ports and harbours please use the contact

Tim Lewis – Director, Ports & Harbours
Direct: +44 (0)20 7015 0345
Office: +44 (0)20 7648 9650
Mobile: +44 (0)7920 339 860
Email: tim.lewis@braemar.com

Other areas of activity within Marine Consultancy: