An empirical analysis of maneuvering performance comparison and reproducibility for three identical hull-form vessels through full-scale sea trials
This study investigates the reproducibility and variability of ship maneuverability for three sister fishery training vessels of 2,996-ton, all built to the same design, by comparing and analyzing their full-scale sea trial results according to the IMO MSC 137(76) standards. Turning test results demonstrated that the advance and tactical diameter remained within sufficient safety margins compared to IMO criteria, with limited variations between vessels (0.1-0.3 L), confirming high design reproducibility. In the zig-zag tests, which evaluate transient response, the steering gear hydraulic pump operation mode (one-pump vs. two-pump) was identified as a critical factor for steering efficiency. Specifically, the performance deviations observed under one-pump operation were significantly mitigated by two-pump parallel operation, which enhanced steering torque and response speed. This resulted in a reduction of more than 50% in the inter-vessel deviation of the first overshoot angle, allowing all vessels to stably satisfy the IMO criteria. During stopping tests, while some variability in track reach was observed due to environmental disturbances and initial speed differences, the sister ships exhibited consistent braking response characteristics. This study quantitatively establishes that steering operational variables significantly affect performance reproducibility even within identical ship designs. The findings provide empirical evidence to strengthen the reliability of maneuverability prediction, design verification, and operational assessments for sister ships.