Deck General · Shiphandling — Interaction Alongside

When a large vessel passes close astern of a moored vessel at speed, the moored vessel may surge against her lines because of:

Explanation

A moving vessel drags a pressure field—a bow wave (high pressure) and a low-pressure region along the hull. Passing close to a moored ship this surge/suction can part mooring lines, so passing vessels should slow down (and moored vessels tend lines).

Authority: Knight's Modern Seamanship

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