Navigating the Congo River

The new Angola Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility near Soyo sits in highly stratified water, where the top and bottom layers of water do not mix. LNG carriers experience more resistance which may cause them to move slower than in non-stratified water. This impacts manoeuvrability. As such, Angola LNG wanted a clearer understanding of the water stratification in the area and its possible impact on ships. We used our Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling expertise to investigate the influence of the stratified water on ships’ manoeuvring. In doing so, we gave ship captains a clearer idea of the effect of stratification on the piloting of their ships. This will allow them to improve their navigation, ensuring the safety of themselves and their crew.