FURUNO ELECTRIC CO.,LTD. and 株式会社新来島サノヤス造船 reproduced the starboard and port turning motions of a full-scale tanker using CFD and validated predictive accuracy by comparing the results with full-scale measurement data. The comparison with full-scale data confirmed that turning behaviour can be reproduced with practical accuracy. The results were previously reported at an autumn 2025 conference and SNH2026.
This joint research aimed to directly reproduce the starboard and port turning motions of a full-scale tanker using CFD. The target vessel type was Sanoyas Tanker, and the study validated the results by comparing full-scale measurement data with the CFD analysis. The analysis sought to reproduce full-scale fluid phenomena and vessel motion and to predict the vessel’s turning characteristics with high accuracy.
CFD analysis was conducted using FINE/MARINE 2025.1, taking into account the vessel’s 6 degrees of freedom, the free surface, and propeller thrust. The turning motions of an actual commercial vessel to starboard and port were directly analysed at full scale, and predictive accuracy was validated by comparison with full-scale measurement data.
The turning tests showed good agreement between the CFD predictions and full-scale data for advance distance and turning circle. The error in turning radius was less than 1% for starboard turns and less than 5% for port turns, demonstrating that full-scale CFD analysis can reproduce the motion with practical accuracy.
The results demonstrate the effectiveness of using full-scale CFD to evaluate manoeuvring performance. Issues including factor analysis and simplification studies to improve predictive accuracy have also been identified for future work. The results were reported at the Autumn 2025 Conference and SNH2026 and are positioned as technology that can contribute to safe navigation and energy conservation.