Pengaruh Penggantian Hopper Tank Terhadap Stabilitas pada Kapal SPBC Nusantara Pasific 1

The conventional application of wing tanks on Self-Propelled Barge Carrier (SPBC) vessels presents several operational and stability-related limitations, particularly in terms of cargo handling efficiency, the potential for cargo hanging, and the amplification of free surface effects during partially filled conditions. The flat and wide geometry of wing tanks contributes to dispersed cargo distribution, elevated free surface moments, and reductions in initial stability parameters such as the metacentric height (GM) and the righting lever (GZ) characteristics. To address these issues, a structural modification was introduced by replacing the wing tank configuration with a hopper tank arrangement, characterized by a trapezoidal cross-section that promotes improved cargo flow dynamics and minimizes free surface effects.
This study investigates the quantitative influence of this tank geometry modification on the overall stability performance of an SPBC vessel. The methodological framework involves hull modeling using Maxsurf Modeler, the development of representative loadcase scenarios, and hydrostatic and stability assessments using Maxsurf Stability. Comparative analyses were conducted between the pre-modification (wing tank) and post-modification (hopper tank) configurations, focusing on changes in displacement, longitudinal and vertical center of gravity positions, metacentric height (GM), righting lever curves (GZ), dynamic stability areas, and free surface corrections.

The findings demonstrate that the implementation of hopper tanks results in a substantial improvement in vessel stability. The modified configuration yields higher GM values, enlarged areas under the GZ curve, and a shift in the angle of maximum righting arm toward a more favorable range for operational safety. Furthermore, the hopper geometry effectively reduces free surface effects due to its narrowing lower section, while simultaneously enhancing cargo concentration along the vessel’s centerline, thereby contributing to improved trim behavior. Overall, the hopper tank modification provides notable benefits in terms of hydrostatic stability, operational safety margins, and loading performance for SPBC vessels.