Dynamic motion response of an oil tanker moored with a single buoy under different mooring system failure scenarios

In this study, the dynamic responses of an oil tanker moored on a Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring (CALM) buoy were simulated under the wave, wind and current through numerical simulations. Then the tension of the mooring lines and the drift range of the tanker were studied after a mooring system failure. Simulations were done with ANSYS AQWA and Orcina OrcaFlex. Hydrodynamics of tanker was first solved in the frequency domain through AQWA based on the potential theory, three-dimensional radiation and diffraction theory. Then coupled dynamic models, including buoy, oil tanker and the mooring system, were calculated using OrcaFlex. Two mooring system failure scenarios, including the continuous failure of two anchor chains and the failure of hawser, were simulated. The drift ranges of the tanker, hawser and anchor chain tension after the mooring system failure were discussed. The obtained results from this study can be provided as a reasonable reference for ports and related departments for emergency responses.