Understanding the effect of Squat on ships

Years back when I first came across the term squat, frankly I failed to
understand it. Well if you just want to know the mathematical formula
and calculate the squat, it is no rocket science. But to answer
questions like “Why do squat effect take place” may not be easy to
understand.

Are you too in the same boat?

Most of us know that Squat is the decrease in ship’s under keel

clearance due to vessel’s movement in the shallow water. And it is not
a theoretical thing, it is a real thing.

Page 1 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
Incident of sinking of RO-RO vessel “Herald of free enterprise” was the
result of squat.
But squat is not always bad. In 2010, passenger vessel “Oasis of the
sea” used the squat to its advantage. It allowed squat to reduce its air
draft. This helped the vessel to safely pass under a bridge, which
otherwise was not possible.
Incidents like these show how important the knowledge of squat is.
But there are many questions related to squat, answers to which are
sometimes difficult to find.

In this post I will try to answer five of these questions related to squat
that mariners usually ask or enquire about.

Question 1: Why and how does squat effect take place?

Page 2 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
The ships float in water because of one simple reason. There is no net
force acting on the ship. Now it is not that there are no forces acting
on the ship. But all these forces are equal and opposite in nature.

Two of these forces that act in opposite directions are gravitation force
and buoyancy. Force of gravity like to sink the ship and force of
buoyancy likes to make it float. Force of gravity continue to sink the
vessel until force of buoyancy becomes equal to force of gravity.

Page 3 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
Even when we add a weight (cargo) on a floating ship, the gravitation
force increases. This will cause the ship to sink up to a point when
force of buoyancy (that increases as per the Archimedes principle)
becomes equal to the gravitation force.
If you wish to read more about Archimedes principle, you can do so by
clicking.
The point I am trying to make here is that any increase or decrease in
a force on or around ship will affect the ship in a way that depends
upon the direction of force.

Page 4 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
-

Now the question is why we have low pressure under the ship when it
is moving in shallow waters. The answer lies in Bernoulli’s theorem.

If you are OK with reading little bit of physics, you can read about the
Bernoulli’s theorem.
But if you are in no mood to deviate from the topic of squat then you
just need to know following from Bernoulli’s theorem

As per Bernoulli’s theorem, in a flowing liquid if the flow

velocity increases, the pressure in the region would decrease. Above
conclusion is drawn from the Bernoulli’s law of conservation of mass in
a flowing liquid. As per Bernoulli’s theorem, the mass of flowing
liquid in per unit area will always be same.
Now have you tried to run fast and felt air resistance acting on your
chest? You feel some pressure on your chest. But do you feel similar
pressure on your back? I am sure your answer is No.

You feel this pressure on your chest because your chest is trying to
replace the air as you move (or run) forward. The air so replaced by
you fills the vacuum you created by leaving your earlier position.

In the same way, when a ship moves forward it pushes the water
forward. The water all around must flow under and around the
hull to replace the volume of water pushed by the bow.

Page 5 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
In open sea there is no problem for the water to flow under the hull.
But in shallow waters, this flow is restricted. This results in
higher flow velocity of water passing under the hull. And there
is decrease in pressure because of high velocity of water (as
per Bernoulli’s theorem).

Page 6 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
Now as the pressure at the bottom of the ship decrease, ship need to
react in some manner to compensate that. Remember we said, ship’s
float because net force acting on the ship is zero. This drop in
pressure is compensated by the sink age of the vessel as the
direction of this force (low pressure) is downwards.

But will this sinkage be bodily, by stern or by bow? We will discuss it

later.

Question 2: What are the factors that affect Squat?

Page 7 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
Now that we know the reason behind squat effect, let’s see what
factors affects squat.

-1-Speed of the vessel

As we know the squat is caused by the low pressure that is developed
under a ship in shallow water. With more and more speed of the vessel,
the squat will increase. This is because with more speed, the vessel
will push more water forward and more water is required to fill
that void.

This will cause more drop in pressure under the hull and vessel
need to sink more to compensate for that drop in pressure.

But we need to understand that the speed here is “speed through

water” and not “speed over ground”. Why, you may ask?

Page 8 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
Consider a ship moving at 6 Knots GPS speed with 6 knots current
from astern. Is the ship pushing any water forward? No it isn’t because
the water is flowing with the ship. In fact in this case ship will not be
using engine as the ship will be moving with the current. Will there be
any squat in this case? No there will not be because as the ship is
not pushing any water forward, no water is required to pass
under the hull of ship.

So the squat in this case will be zero because the ship’s speed through
water is zero. This is even when the ship is having a speed over ground (GPS speed)
of 6 knots.

Page 9 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
(So we can say that squat depends upon the speed through
water.)

This is also the reason that vessel can experience squat while
alongside in a river with strong current. In this case vessel’s speed
over ground is zero but speed through water is equal to the river
current.

-2-Block coefficient of the vessel

What is block coefficient of the vessel?
Its But I will refresh this for those who might need it.
Block coefficient is the ratio of vessel’s underwater volume
(Displacement) to the volume of a box that this could fit in.

So for a box shaper vessel, the block coefficient will be 1.

Page 10 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
 Page 11 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
But how does block coefficient of a vessel affect Squat?

Again it all depends upon how much water a moving ship is pushes
forward. Let me ask a question. Which ship will push more water while
moving? A box shaped vessel or a vessel like this in the
passenger ship.

Page 12 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
 Page 13 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
 Page 14 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
A box shaped vessel will push more water and hence will have more
squat compared to the passenger ship in the photo so more the
block coefficient of the vessel more will be the squat.

Blockage factor of the canal and narrow channel

Canals and narrow channels create a different scenario. In a canal,
Apart from having shallow water beneath, even the sideways water

Flow is restricted. This creates additional low pressure which affects

the squat.‫وﻟﻜﻦ ﻛﯿﻒ ﻧﻌﺮف ﻣﺎ إذا ﻛﺎن ﻋﺎﻣﻞ اﻻﻧﺴﺪاد ﻣﻮﺟﻮدًا أم ﻻ؟‬

But how do we know if the blockage factor exists or not.

Blockage factor is a ratio of ship’s immersed cross section to the

cross section of water within the canal.

We can calculate the blockage factor by this formula

Blockage factor = b x h / B x H…..

Page 15 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
Blockage factor of less than 0.100 represents open sea like
conditions and hence no blockage factor.

Blockage factor of 0.265 represents narrow channel.

Question 3: How do we know if the squat will

result in forward trim, aft trim or no trim?

As we discussed, in shallow depths, the water tries to fill the void

created by moving ship. For the fine-form ships like Queen Mary
2, the bow of the ship will not obstruct the water flow as much

Page 16 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
as the mid and aft section of the ship. This is because of the
shape of the bow.

In this case the effective low pressure will be aft of the midship. This
will cause the stern to sink more than the bow and will result in
trimming aft because of squat.

With full-form ships like super-tankers, it is other way around. On

these ships bow shape is what we call full-form. Because of which bow
obstruct considerable amount of water flow. The resultant low
pressure created by the obstruction is forward of the midship
and these vessel squat will occur more at the bow. This will
result in trimming forward because of squat on these vessels.

The tendency of the bow to obstruct the water flow is related to the
block coefficient of the vessel. Block coefficient of the vessel also
defines if the vessel will squat bodily, by stern or by bow.

By various calculations, shipping scholars have got a defining value

(0.7) of block coefficient. If the block coefficient is 0.7, the vessel will
squat bodily. If the block coefficient is less than 0.7, the vessel will
squat by stern. Finally if the block coefficient is more than 0.7, the
vessel will squat by bow.

If the block coefficient = 0.7 ship Squat bodily

If the block coefficient  (‫ )أﻗﻞ‬less of 0.7 Squat by Astern
If the block coefficient > (More) than 0.7 Squat by Head

Dr Barrass has done extensive research on the topic of squat. And as

per him, above rule will only be applicable when the ship is at even
keel in static position.
Page 17 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
.
As per him, if the vessel is trimmed by stern in static position, the
maximum squat will be towards stern. And if the vessel is trimmed by
bow, the maximum squat will be towards bow.
So we can conclude as per below

Page 18 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
Question 4: How can we calculate Squat?

This is most important question. How can we calculate squat?

There are two ways to know how much squat you can expect. One
with the help of software and second by manual calculation.

Calculating Squat manually

There are number of formulas to calculate squat. But Dr Barrass’s
formula is widely used for calculating squat. Dr Barrass’s formula has
several versions ranging from the complex formula to the simpler
ones.
Have a look at the complex one.

Page 19 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
 Page 20 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
This formula has a simpler version which takes into account blockage
factor.

Page 21 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
And simpler formula and which is used by most of the navigators is the
most simplified version of Dr. Barrass’s formula.

Page 22 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
If you notice, the simplified formula above is derived by applying the
blockage factor of open sea (0.100) and that of a canal (0.265).

Calculating squat with a software

One of the authentic and good software for calculating squat is UKC
manager.
To calculate the squat on UKC manager software, open UKC manager
and enter ship’s static data.

Page 23 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
Next enter ship’s dynamic data. In the dynamic data we just need to
enter the values of draft at forward and aft perpendicular. Rest of the
data is not required if you only need to have the value for squat.

Next enter topographical data. If you are in doubt about sea type
(open, restricted or canal), assume canal for being on safer side.

Page 24 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
Now under the “UKC Calculation options” we can tell the software what
we want to know? Do we want to know the speed at which we can

Page 25 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
achieve required UKC? Or do we want to know at what height of tide
we can achieve the required UKC? Or do we want to know what should
be our static draft to achieve the required UKC?

After choosing the required option, we can save and then click on
results.

It will give the required results in complete detail which navigators can
use for navigation.

Page 26 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
Question 5: What are the signs that show vessel
is experiencing squat?

While we need to allow the squat while calculating the ship’s UKC in all
stages of voyage, there are certain signs which can show that we have
entered in the shallow waters. Knowledge of these signs can help the
navigators to be more vigilant and keep an eye on the echo
sounder.

Presence of these signs is also a good time to re-confirm the squat

with your calculation. For example if we expect our UKC to be 5
meters at this position and actual UKC is 4 meters, it would be better
that we reduce our UKC by 1 meter in other stages of the voyage. We
can then re-calculate if we are complying with UKC policy of the

Page 27 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
 company. If not we can calculate at what speed we can comply and
proceed at that speed.

So what are these signs which show that vessel is in shallow water and
is experiencing squat?

These signs are

1) Ship’s steering becomes sluggish. That is it becomes

comparatively difficult to steer the ship

2) Engine RPM will decrease to compensate for the load on the engine.

3) The speed of the ship will decrease. I have experienced with 0.7
meters UKC, vessel moving at full ahead only making 6 knots GPS
speed.

4) The ship may start to vibrate

5) Mud showing up around ship’s hull

6) Vessel’s rolling and pitching reduced

7) Turning diameter of the vessel increases (it can become as much

as twice to that in open sea)

8) LCB position

Page 28 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
Ships with LCB forward of amidships tend to squat more by the head
and those with LCB aft of amidships more by the stern.

9) Still water trim

10) A ship initially on even keel will usually squat more by the head
(trim by the head). A ship heavily trimmed by the stern will squat
more by the stern (trim further by the stern).

11) It is difficult to generalise about all ships since other factors may
be of influence such as appendages like spectacle frames, A-
brackets etc. which will create turbulence effects.

Other factors might include:

12) Stem/bow type

13) Altering course (which may cause trim to change)

14) Reversing the propeller

15) Turbulence caused by hull roughness

16) List

Page 29 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
Conclusion…….. Conclusion……… Conclusion

Squat effect increases doubly with speed. If the ship sinks x cm due to Squat
Effect due to y speed then it will sink 4x cm in 2y speed.
Thus to minimize squat, the pilot or the master of the ship has to maintain slow
speed. If the pilot sees that with no considerable change in shaft speed, the
vessel is slowing down, then the Squat is happening. He should immediately
reduce the speed to minimize the Squat effect

Squat is not a theoretical term. It is a real practical phenomenon

experienced on ships moving in shallow waters. People have lost life
because of ships that sank because of squat. Ship owners have lost
millions of dollars because of grounding of ships.

Bank Effect

Till now we have considered the keel’s proximity to the river or channel bed. Now
we will consider the hull’s proximity to the bank. Let’s refer to the figure
We see the ship is close to the stern on the Starboard side. While the port side is
wide open. When the ship plies with considerable speed parallel to the bank,
water flow rushing below from the vicinity of the starboard bow towards the stern
gets bottled at the constricted space at the stern. But to satisfy the Continuity
Equation, its speed increases below the Starboard Quarter. This increase of the
speed of the passing water decreases the pressure at the Zs zone than
the Zp zone on the Port Quarter.

Consequently water pressure at the port quarter will push the stern more towards
the bank making the bow swings towards the center of the channel. This effect of
stern moving towards the bank is called the Bank Effect.

A pilot while maneuvering near a bank must slow down to minimize this effect
and take the help of rudder to counter it as best as he can. Else he may be forced
to move out of the channel. Two ships passing close to each other will
experience similar effects in close proximity. Slowing down is the only solution,
as usual for both the vessels.

Page 30 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
 Page 31 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif
 Bank Cushion Effect

When the ship is approaching a steep bank as in fig the water pressure at the
starboard bow being less than the port bow ( due the asymmetric flow, explained
earlier), the bow is pushed towards the port as to dampen the speed of the fall.
This is called Bow cushioning effect.
To minimize these effects the pilot must slow down to avoid any untoward
incident or accident

Page 32 of 32
TITEL: - Effect of Squat on the ship Captain: Mohammed Sharif