This CLARION demonstrator focuses on enhancing mooring safety for RORO and CONRO vessels, which are particularly vulnerable to wind loads due to their large side surface. Currently, ports like Antwerp-Bruges rely on ad hoc tugboat assistance to keep these ships in place during storm conditions—an approach that consumes large amounts of fuel and ties up valuable port resources.
The demonstration explores the potential of adapting the ShoreTension system, originally developed for container ships, to RORO and CONRO vessels with their unique stern ramp configurations requiring special attention. A full-scale test is being conducted at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, where storm winds are simulated using tugboats pulling the moored vessel from the quay wall while sensors track the vessel’s response and mooring line tension. The goal is to assess how effectively the system can keep the vessel safely moored at berth without the need for tugboat intervention.
This activity contributes directly to the CLARION project’s broader mission of improving port infrastructure resilience and sustainability. Results will inform technical guidelines for mooring RORO/CONRO vessels under extreme weather conditions, potentially leading to safer, cleaner, and more efficient port operations across Europe.
