A Numerical Study on Optimization of Side-by-Side Mooring System of Floating LNG Bunkering Terminal with LNG Carrier in Operation Condition

Abstract

In this study, we perform a series of numerical calculations on two vessels in the time domain. One vessel maintains its position using an internal turret and catenary mooring lines, while the other is moored to the former vessel via a ship-to-ship (STS) mooring system. We obtain hydrodynamic forces using the higher-order boundary element method (HOBEM). Then, we determine their coefficients using the convolution function method in the time domain. We model the catenary mooring lines using the finite element method, and the STS mooring lines are treated as linear springs with constraints. To optimize the STS system, we conduct parametric studies on STS mooring systems. Finally, we compare the motion and structural responses of the initial and modified configurations.