Seakeeper is the seakeeping analysis program in the Maxsurf software suite. It uses the Maxsurf geometry file to calculate the response of the vessel to user-defined sea conditions. In order to calculate the vessel response, linear strip theory based on the work of Salvesen et al (1970), is used to calculate the coupled heave and pitch response of the vessel. The roll response is calculated using linear roll damping theory. In addition to graphical and tabular output of numerical results data, Seakeeper is also able to provide an animation of the vessel’s response to specified sea conditions.
Strip theory, and hence Seakeeper, is able to provide reasonably accurate seakeeping predictions particularly for a relatively wide range of vessel types. The speed of the analysis and its integration into the rest of the Maxsurf suite, make Seakeeper particularly useful in initial design stage. For a greater insight into the accuracy that can be achieved by Seakeeper, please refer to the validation appendices at the end of this manual.
Continue to read: Seakeeping Fundamentals on page 3.