Weight and draft estimation of small fishing vessels for maritime accident analysis

Abstract

Coastal maritime accidents have occurred for fishing vessels with highest percentages. Accident simulations are often carried out in order to look for the cause of accidents. Input variables such as vessel weights and drafts are required for the accurate simulations. Payloads of fishing vessels are significantly changed depending on their loading conditions. Small fishing vessels usually have little records of weight distributions, so the weight estimation methods should be required for the simulations. In this study, weights of small fishing vessels are categorized into six groups. Based on the weight distribution records of several Korean fishing vessels, empirical formulas are proposed for the predictions of weights and locations of center of gravity of each item according to loading conditions. On the assumption that the gross tonnage of fishing vessels is only given, total weights and locations of center of gravity are estimated by using the proposed formulas, and estimated values are compared with the actual fishing vessel data. Finally, hydrostatic calculations are performed with non-dimensionalized bonjean curves in order to estimate mean drafts of fishing vessels.