An approximate method for calculating total ship resistance on a given shipping route under statistical weather conditions and its application in the initial design of container ships

During ship design, its service speed is one of the crucial parameters that determine its future operational profitability. As sufficiently exact calculation methods applicable to preliminary design stage are lacking, the so-called contract speed, the speed a ship reaches in calm water, is usually specified during the draft stage. The service speed obtainable by a ship under real weather conditions (mainly wind and waves) is one of the most important parameters influencing a ship’s profitability on a given shipping route. This paper presents a parametric model of calculating total ship resistance on a given shipping route under actual weather conditions (wind, waves, sea current), that could be useful in the initial design of container ships.