OPTIMOOR Users Guide Appendices

These are from the old DOS guide and have not yet been updated.

Most of the information in these appendices is still applicable. But they do not
cover changes and enhancements in the newer Windows versions of OPTIMOOR.
Also, the screen images do not represent the Windows version.
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-1

Appendix B

USING TIDES AND CURRENTS IN OPTIMOOR

B-1 Introduction

This Appendix documents the methods used within OPTIMOOR to calculate tides and tidal
currents. It gives a general explanation of tides and tidal currents. It also provides guidance to users
on developing and inputting appropriate tide data.

B-2 Tides

B-2.1 Background
The following brief explanation of tidal phenomena is provided as background for shore
personnel. It should be well known to marine personnel.
Tides almost always follow a repetitive daily (diurnal) or twice daily (semi-diurnal) cycle. The
principal driving function is the moon. The tide cycle time is actually about 24 hrs 50 minutes, or
in the case of semi-diurnal tides, half that time. Thus the tide cycle will advance about 50 minutes
each day.
Figure B-1 shows typical tide patterns for New York and Galveston harbors. The New York tides
exhibit a semi-diurnal pattern. The Galveston tides for the period shown here exhibit a diurnal
pattern at first but then change to a semi-diurnal pattern.
The highest elevation in each tide cycle is called, appropriately enough, high tide, and the lowest
elevation is called low tide. These elevations are stated in terms of a datum elevation, which is
almost always the lowest low water. However, definitions of this term vary. Thus tide level can
occasionally be below lowest low water. The applicable lowest low water is a known value for each
port and berth. Water depths and berth elevations, for example mooring points, are usually
referenced to lowest low water.
The high and low tides can vary significantly with time due to many factors. The sun has a
pronounced effect, causing variations in high and low tide over the period of a lunar month. The
highest tides and greatest water level variations generally coincide with the full moon and the new
moon, times when the sun and the moon are in line with the earth. These times of highest tides are
called spring tides. The times of the least variation of tide elevation are called neap tides, and occur
about midway between full moon and new moon.
Other astronomical factors also effect the tides. Thus the day-to-day patterns of high and low
tides will not be the same each lunar month. Tide predictions or observations made for one
particular time are of no value at another time. Thus appropriate tide tables must be consulted to
know what the tides will be at some future time.
Tide tables are readily available for almost all ports. They are published by governmental
agencies, port authorities, private institutions, almanac publishers, and even newspapers. These
published tide tables apply to a particular reference location at a port. It may be necessary to adjust
the published tide times and elevations to apply to a particular berth location, especially if it is
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-2

remote from the reference location. The appropriate adjustments for such another location might be
included in the tide publication, or they may otherwise be known for a particular berth.
OPTIMOOR has convenient features for inputting published tide tables for a reference site and the
appropriate adjustments for another site. OPTIMOOR then automatically makes the adjustments of
tide time and elevation from the reference site to the berth site.

B-2.2 Geometric Effect of Change in Draft Plus Change in Tide

The potential effects of changes in tide elevation on a moored vessel are usually obvious, but in
some cases they are subtle. Figure B-2 shows elevation views of a vessel moored alongside a pier
at various states of draft and tide. This illustrates the trigonometric and geometric effects.
Assume that at low tide and deep draft, the deck of the vessel is level with the pier. The mooring
lines extend horizontally. In this position, the lines are fully effective in restraining the vessel
alongside the pier. The length of the mooring line M between the fairlead at the side of the deck
and the shore mooring point is the same as the horizontal distance X between these two points.
The vertical angle of the line is zero in this deep-draft, low-tide position.
When the tanker rises, due to changes in draft, trim and tide, the deck can become
significantly higher than the pier. Denote that change in deck elevation by Z. The horizontal
distance between the vessel fairlead and the shore mooring point remains the same. The angle
of the line from horizontal is  = arctan (Z/X). The length of the mooring line between the
vessel and the mooring point is then L = X/(cos ).
As an example, let X = 40 m. Assume that the vessel deck rises a distance Z = 15 m due to
change in draft alone. The line length becomes L = 42.7 m.
Now consider the difference imposed by an additional 5 m change due to rising tide. The
total elevation change between the pier and the vessel deck becomes Z = 20 m. Thus the line
length now becomes L = 44.7 m.
The percent change in line length due to change in draft alone was only 6.7%, But due to the
effect of tide, the percent change in line length is actually 12%.
The resulting increase in line load depends on the elasticity characteristics of the mooring
line. The 6.7% length change due to change in draft alone might not overload conventional
synthetic ropes. However, unless the line is tended, the 12% change in line length due to the
combined effects of changes in draft and tide would break most synthetic ropes.

B-2.3 Trigonometric Effect of Change in Draft Plus Change in Tide

The vertical angle of the mooring line also decreases its effectiveness in resisting horizontal
loads. Let the environmental force exerted on the vessel imposes a load P on the mooring line
when it is in the horizontal position. As the deck rises, the vessel still imposes the same
horizontal load on the line. Because the line is now at an angle , the line load is then
P' = P/(cos ).
Assume that the mooring line is loaded to 50% of its break strength when the vessel deck and
pier are at the same elevation. After the vessel draft changes by 15 m, the vertical line angle
 = 20.6/. At this angle, the line is loaded to more than 53% of its break strength. An
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-3

additional 5 m of tide change increases the angle to 26.6/ and loads the line to 56% of its
breaking strength.
If tide change is ignored, the calculated mooring line load is only 53.4% of break strength.
But when tide effect is considered, the mooring line load becomes 56% of break strength, in
excess of the OCIMF criteria.
These two line load change effects  the geometric increase in line length and the
trigonometric effect of increase in line angle  are additive. Even if the mooring lines are
tended in order to accommodate the change in line length, the angle change effect still takes
place.
It is obvious that either effect can overload and possibly even break a mooring line. It is less
obvious that the relatively small 5 m change in tide on top of a 15 m change in draft can make
such large differences.
OPTIMOOR calculates the change in mooring line loads which results from changes in vessel
deck elevations, due to tide as well as due to draft and trim.

B-3 Entry of Tide Data

If appropriate tide table data is entered into OPTIMOOR, then the program will automatically
calculate the change in tide with time. This is very useful when combined with the effects of
changes in vessel draft and trim to predict changes in line loads over a defined period of time.

B-3.1 Layout of Tide Table Screen

The tide table data is entered on the Tide Table Screen. A blank Tide Table Screen is shown
in Figure B-3. This screen can be reached by the command Alt-T from either the Berth Screen
or the Environment Screen.
The Tidetable File name will appear in the top left-center of the screen after a name is
assigned when exiting this screen. If data is entered or altered on this screen, then when you
attempt to leave the screen (by Escape ), you will be prompted to confirm the file name or enter
a new file name.
Enter the location name or another note in the top right-center of the screen.
The year (or years) appears at both corners at the top of the screen. Five vertical sections are
visible on the Tidetable Screen, and 36 such sections are available for data entry within the
Tidetable File. The name of the month (or months) appears at the left top of each section.

When creating or altering a Tidetable File, you may scroll to other months or years by
placing the cursor on the month and using the Ctrl + or Ctrl– function. This has the effect of
advancing all the dates in the tidetable by one month, and changing the year between December
and January. This function should normally only be used for creating a completely new tide
table, as it will otherwise shift the months for existing tide data.
As soon as data is entered, this defines the beginning of a 36 section block. You may within
this block of sections by the use of the Right or Left Arrow key.

B-3.2 Entering Tide Data

TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-4

Each vertical section displays five dates of the month. There is space for data for four tide
cycles on each date. Enter the tide time and level beneath the respective labels.
The Time can be entered from the key board. Alternatively, the Time can be changed by
placing the cursor on that "time" and pressing Ctrl + or . Holding down Shift will index time
by hour increments.

OPTIMOOR screens tide time data is checked for possible errors. Successive tides within a
day must fall within reasonable limits. For example, the first space for a day will not accept a
tide later than 0859. All tide times must be successive. If a tide time is entered which lies
outside one of the adjacent times, then that adjacent time is superseded and deleted, and it must
then be re-entered if still required.
The tide Level can be entered as a number, or it can be changed from the existing value by
pressing Ctrl+ or . If the tide Level is greater than the preceding elevation, then the number
is displayed in blue, indicating a high tide. If it is less than the preceding elevation, then the
number is displayed in red, indicating a low tide. Two successive blue numbers or two
successive red numbers probably indicate a mistake in data entry.
If only three tide stages occur on a date, the fourth time should be skipped. However, if the
following day has 5 tide stages (a rare occurrence) the last space of the preceding day can be
used to enter the first tide of the following day. That value will then be preceded by a plus sign.
Any Time or Level entry can be deleted with the Delete key. This creates a blank, and the
corresponding Level or Tide, if not already blank, is then displayed in grey. When OPTIMOOR
calculates tides from the tide table, it does not recognize this grey partial data.
Approximately six months of tide data can be entered at one time. The tide data file wraps
around. If an attempt is made to scroll beyond the end limit of enter data, a warning Delete
first month of tide table will be displayed. If the Delete key is struck while that warning is
displayed, the first month of tide data is erased. An additional month of tide data can then be
entered at the end.
While displaying the Tide Screen, the cursor can be moved to the present time (according
to the computer clock) by issuing the command Ctrl-N. The cursor can be moved to the
calculation time, as defined on the Case Screen, by the command Ctrl-C.

B-3.3 Example Tide Table Data

The tides at Elizabethport, near the site of a number of oil terminals on Arthur Kill between
Staten Island and New Jersey, are used as an example. Figure B-4 shows a portion of the Tide
Differences Table1 which includes Elizabethport. It indicates tide differences based on Sandy
Hook. The Sandy Hook Tide Tables for September, 1993 are also shown in Figure B-4.
Figure B-5 shows these September tide data for Sandy Hook entered on the OPTIMOOR Tide
Table Screen. Note that on the 8th, 14th, and 21st there are only three tide stages. Between the
13th and 20th of September the low tides were actually below the "lowest low water". This is
not unusual, given the way that "lowest low water" is defined. Also, note that the tides near the
Spring and Fall equinoxes are exceptionally large, because both the moon and the sun are
approximately over the equator at these times.

B-3.4 Entry of Tide Conversion Table

TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-5

Unless tide tables are available for a location very near the berth, it is usually necessary to
apply adjustments to the tide heights and times. If the appropriate adjustments are entered in
the upper right portion of the Berth Screen, OPTIMOOR will then automatically make these
adjustments.
Figure B-6 shows the OPTIMOOR Berth Screen with appropriate tide conversion values
between Sandy Hook and Elizabethport entered in the upper right corner. These values are
taken from Figure B-5. At Elizabethport, high tide occurs 24 minutes later than at Sandy Hook,
and both the high and low tides are 5% higher (relative to the respective tide datums) than at
Sandy Hook.
Figure B-7 is the OPTIMOOR Environment Screen corresponding to the above data entries.
It shows the tide times and elevations at Sandy Hook for September 18 and the corresponding
values, as computed by OPTIMOOR at Elizabethport.

B-3.5 Other Tide Considerations

At times between high and low tide, OPTIMOOR interpolates the water elevation at the berth
based on a cosine curve. This may not be absolutely accurate for some berth locations, but it
is generally accurate enough. The Calculation Time displayed in Figure B-7 is 1100 hrs. This
is about 27% of a cosine cycle between the times of adjacent high and low tides. The preceding
high was 2.05 m and the following low tide is  0.19 m, for a tide range of 2.24 m. The tide
level can thus be calculated using the cosine function. The resulting tide elevation at 1100 hrs
on September 18, 1993 is 1.76 m (5.8 ft).
The tide changes in the above example at Elizabethport, about 2 m (6.5 ft), may not seem
great enough to effect ship moorings. However, even these relatively low elevation differences
can be significant on some moorings, for example wires which extend only a short distance
from the vessel to the berth.
At many locations in the world, much higher elevations can be expected. At Shell Haven
near the mouth of the Thames River, tide changes of over 6 m (26.2 ft) are not uncommon.
Unusual tide situations are encountered at some locations. As an example, Southampton
Harbour experiences a curious "double high tide" phenomena twice a day. The OPTIMOOR Tide
Table Screen does not provide sufficient space to put in both high tides and the brief intervening
low tide. However, in this circumstance only a modest error will generally occur if only the
highest tide is input, possibly with a time adjusted to be between the two high tides.
If no tides are defined on the Tide Table Screen, or if a value of zero is input for the Tide
Multiplication Factor on the Berth Data Screen, then there will be no periodic component of
tide. The user can then elect to input the appropriate tide level at a particular time as an
Elevation Correction on this screen.
The user can also use this Elevation Correction input to enter a tide level adjustment which
is to be added to or subtracted from the tide elevations. Such an elevation correction to the
periodic tide level variation might for example represent the effects of barometric pressure,
storm surge or, an unusual fluctuation in river run off. Remember that the published tide tables
are based on predictions which only account for the astronomical influences on water level. The
user should thus be aware of and alert to other factors which influence local tides and a berth
and make adjustments when appropriate.
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-6

B-4 Entering Tide/Current Relationships

B-4.1 Background
Tidal current is also known as tidal stream. In a strict sense, it is that component of current
which varies with the state of tide. In the more broad and common sense, it refers to the total
state of current flow as affected by state of tide.
At berths in restricted channels and waterways, the direction and magnitude of current is
usually a function of the state of tide. Typically the maximum ebb current occurs about mid
way between high tide and low tide, and a state of minimum ebb current or maximum flood
current occurs about mid way between low tide and high tide. (Ebb current flows out of the
channel toward the open sea; Flood current flows up the channel from the open sea.)
Figure B-1 shows the current patterns for New York and Galveston harbors corresponding
to the tide levels. Comparing these respective graphs shows how the tides closely depend on
the currents at these locations.
Maximum currents normally occur out of phase with high and low tides. (The above
examples appear to be exceptions.) Thus it is generally over conservative to assume that the
maximum possible tide level and current velocity take place simultaneously. Calculations using
the relationships between current and tide can be tedious. However, OPTIMOOR incorporates
a feature which performs these calculations.
The relationship between the state of tide and the magnitude and direction of current at the
berth are usually known by local berth personnel. The relationship may be published in a berth
data booklet or other port publication. In some cases, the general relationships can be found or
derived from other references, such as government publications and almanacs.
When these tide-to-current relationships are entered into OPTIMOOR, the current is then
calculated automatically based on the state of tide.

B-4.2 Tide to Current Relationship Data Sources

For many berths, the relationship between tide and current times for the port site are already
known. If they are not already known, they should be determined in a scientific manner.
The following illustrates a general method of determining these relationships. It may be
appropriate for estimating the time lag between peak tides and fastest currents when other more
accurate information is not available. For critical applications, more accurate methods, possibly
including on-site measurements, should be used.
The currents at Elizabethport, NJ are used as an example. Figure B-8 is a portion of a
Current Differences Table2 which includes this berth site. It states that the current time
differences are based on current tables for The Narrows, which is on the other side of Staten
Island and spanned by the Verrizano Bridge. Figure B-8 shows a portion of that Current Table
for September, 1993.
OPTIMOOR does not provide a means of entering this entire current table and then converting
it to apply to Elizabethport, as was done for the tide table. That would be tedious work for the
small increase in accuracy which might be achieved. Also, such tables giving actual current
predictions are seldom available for a berth. Instead, OPTIMOOR calculates the tidal current
based on the known tide data and the general time and velocity relationships.
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-7

The following examples show how the tide/current time relationship and the tide-
height/current velocity relationship between two sites can be determined based on published tide
and current data.

B-4.3 Determining Tide/Current Time Relationship

In this example, it is first necessary to determine the relationship between tide times at The
Narrows and Elizabethport. The following tables shows how this is done, based on the date
September 18, 1993.
The Current Differences Table indicates that the maximum flood current at Elizabethport
lags that at The Narrows by 9 minutes. This actually means that the flood current at
Elizabethport occurs a few minutes before that at the Narrows. The maximum ebb current at
Elizabethport lags that at The Narrows by 4 minutes. From these data and the Current Table
for The Narrows, the times of maximum flood and ebb current at Elizabethport for September
18 are determined. Also, using data from Figure B-2, the times of maximum ebb and flood
current at Elizabethport for the date of interest can be determined.

Sept. 18 Sandy Hook Elizabethport

Tide time dif. time
Low 0254 + 24 0318
High 0904 + 41 0945
Low 1526 + 24 1550
High 2123 + 41 2204

Sept. 18 The Narrows Elizabethport

Current time dif. time
Ebb 0153 +4 0157
Flood 0754 9 0745
Ebb 1425 +4 1429
Flood 2022 9 2013

Now knowing the times of tides and currents at Elizabethport, the relationship between these
times is determined.

Elizabethport hours minutes LAG from Sandy Hook

Low Tide 0318 198
Flood Current 0745 465 267 minutes

High Tide 0945 585

Ebb Current 1429 869 284 minutes
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-8

Thus the Maximum Flood Current at Elizabethport lags Low Tide by approximately 284
minutes, and the Maximum Ebb Current lags High Tide by about 267 minutes. The time
differences might be slightly different on other dates, but these data will be sufficient, at least
for the purposes of this illustration.

B-4.4 Determining Current Velocity Adjustment

The Table of Current Differences indicates that, at Elizabethport the Average Maximum
Flood Current is 1.4 kn at an angle of 90/. Also, the Average Maximum Ebb Current is 1.1 kn
at an angle of 262/.
These average current conditions could be used, but they would not be conservative. Note
in Figure B-8 that the average flood current for The Narrows is listed as 1.7 kn, but on
September 18 the flood current is actually 2.4 kn. (Because it is near the Fall equinox, the tides
and currents on September 18 will be among the highest during the year.) The ratio between
this actual flood current and the average is 1.4. Using this adjustment, the greatest maximum
flood current at Elizabethport is probably about 2 kn. In like manner, the greatest maximum ebb
current at Elizabethport is probably about 1.5 kn.

B-4.5 Entering Tidal Current Data

Figure B-6 shows the Tidal Current relationship values determined entered on the OPTIMOOR
Berth Screen. Note that the 0 / berth orientation generally corresponds to the direction of the
channel data given for Elizabethport, but is not representative of any particular facility. Other
values on this figure also do not represent facilities at Elizabethport.
The current directions entered on the Berth Screen of OPTIMOOR must be referenced to true
north. If they are only known with relation to the berth face, then they must be converted, as
demonstrated in Part 4 of the Users Guide.
Figure B-7 shows the resulting current data for the berth site as it appears on the OPTIMOOR
Environment Screen. At the indicated time of 1100 hrs on September 18, 1993, the current is
almost slack.

B-4.6 Constant Current and Current Adjustment

The current at a particular berth depends on other factors in addition to tide. Those factors
which are relatively constant are usually included in the tidal-to-current relationships discussed
above. However, some factors are temporary or seasonal, such as wind driven current affected
by a passing storm or exceptionally high river flow after heavy rains, snow melt, or reservoir
release.
Provision for applying a Constant adjustment to the current is made on the Current Display
in the lower left-hand corner of the Environment Screen. The Constant adjustment is added to
the current as calculated by the tide-to-current relationship. Also a Constant adjustment can be
made to the current direction as calculated by the tide-to-current relation. The resulting current
direction is a vector addition of the Constant and the tidal directions. Also, the current velocity
is achieved by vector addition when the tidal and Constant directions are not the same.
This Constant current adjustment can also be used in the absence of an established tide-to-
current relationship to enter an estimate of current velocity and direction. The current used in
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-9

OPTIMOOR calculations will then not vary with time and tide. They are simply constant values,
like wind speed, which can be changed at will in analyzing a mooring case.

B-4.7 Cautions With Utilizing the Above Technique

It is important that the current velocity and direction be accurately known. The techniques
used in the above example of prediction currents from generally published navigation data are
not recommended for predicting currents at a particular berth site in critical situations. The
predictions may not be accurate enough, and they might be misleading.
The above technique will probably mis-estimate the actual current velocity at the berth. The
current meter used in establishing the published information was probably in a completely
different location, for example at a wider or narrower part of the channel. Also, it was probably
near mid channel, while the berth is near shore. For the same reasons, the above technique
probably misrepresents the actual current direction at the berth.
The above technique might be used to establish the approximate time relationships between
tides and currents. It might also be used to estimate the variations of current velocity with tide
levels over a "lunar" month.

B-4.8 More Accurate Methods for Establishing Current Parameters for a Berth
Where OPTIMOOR is to be used at a particular berth or set of berths at a terminal, then special
effort should be made to determine the actual tidal current direction and velocity relationships
for each berth. If these are not already known from tests conducted at the site, then professional
help should be engaged to conduct a current data gathering survey.
As a minimum, current velocity and direction should be scientifically observed for several
tide cycles. A crude way of accomplishing this is to periodically throw weighted tennis balls
or other small floating objects which are not apt to be effected by wind into the water near the
pier, and then to time and track their speed and direction using transits and a stop watch. This
should be done without a vessel at the berth. This should preferably be done at a time of highest
tide range and when current is not unduly influenced by atmospheric pressure, wind, or river
run-off conditions.
Special care should be taken in establishing current direction relative to the berth. Current
at even a few degrees off the bow or stern of the vessel can have a pronounced effect on
mooring force analysis results. An error of several degrees can cause a much greater error than
an error of several tenths of a knot.

B-4.9 Other Current Considerations

The magnitudes of ebb and flood current are in reality functions of the magnitudes of the
high and low tides, and thus they will vary between tide cycles. For example, at highest high
tide, the corresponding current velocity will generally be greater than at lowest high tide. This
phenomena is not modelled in the tide-to-current relation feature within OPTIMOOR.
For this reason, it may be preferable to use the greatest flood and ebb currents, which
generally occur close to the Spring and Fall equinoxes. This technique was demonstrated in the
above example.
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-10

The tide-to-current relation feature within OPTIMOOR cannot handle cases of rotary current, in
which the current direction changes around points of the compass with time instead of simply
reversing direction. In such cases, the appropriate current velocity and direction should be
determined separately and entered into the program.

Apdx-B.gid:March 1, 1998

_________________________
References :
1. Table 2, Tidal Differences and Other Constants, Tide Tables 1993, East Coast of North and South America,
U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC, 1992.

2. Table 2, Current Differences and Other Constants, Tidal Current Tables 1993, Atlantic Coast of North
America, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington,
DC, 1992.
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-11

Figure B-1 Example Tide and Current Patterns, New York and Galviston
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-12

Figure B-2 Trigonometric and Geometric Effects of Elevation Tide and

Draft Changes on Mooring Line Loads
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-13

Figure B-3 Blank Tide Table Screen

TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-14

Figure B-4 Example Tide Differences Table for Elizabethport and

Tide Table for Sandy Hook, September, 1993
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-15

Figure B-5 Tide Table Screen with Example Tide Data Screen with Sandy
Hook Data
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-16

Figure B-6 Berth Screen With Tide and Current Adjustment Data
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-17

Figure B-7 Environment Screen With Adjusted Tide and Current Data
TTI © OPTIMOOR Users Guide Page B-18

Figure B-8 Example Current Difference Table for Elizabethport and

Current Table for the Narrows, September, 1993