Abstract
Hydrodynamics and sediment resuspension events, induced at the shoreline by a deep-draft vessel passing nearby, are described. Measurements (pressure, currents and turbidity) were obtained at 4 Hz, on a lower beach ~50 m from a channel where large car ferries operate in Wootton Creek, Isle of Wight. The study focuses on a representative 8-min 32-s-long record, during which two large vessels passed the channel section. At the shore, the passage of each vessel induced a long-period water-level drawdown, followed by a water-level oscillation (seiche) of similar period, and the short-period waves of the wake. Both drawdowns were the main constituents of the prevailing wave pattern. The second drawdown was the largest in amplitude, in response to a higher speed of the ferry, and the influence of the seiche which had been activated during the preceding event. Two successive peaks of turbidity were observed shortly after this drawdown. Analyses of current velocity and direction indicate that the sediments resuspended originated from the shallower upper beach. Anthropogenically induced erosion of the foreshore is predicted at Wootton Creek.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allenström B, Andreasson H, Leer-Andersen M, Da-Qing L (2003) Amplification of ship generated wake wash due to coastal effects. Trans Soc Naval Architects Mar Eng 111:61–78
Fenical S, MacDonald N, Yang F (2001) Vessel hydrodynamic investigations. In Proc 1st Onshore and Offshore Pollution Prevention Symposium and Technology Exhibition, 2002, Long Beach, Canada. http://www.slc.ca.gov
Friend PL, Collins MB, Holligan PM (2003) Day–night variation of intertidal flat sediment properties in relation to sediment stability. Estuarine Coastal Shelf Sci 58:663–675
Friesch J, Jensen G, Mewis F (2004) Hydrodynamic design challenges for very large container ships. HANSA 9:74–77
Gifford and Partners (1997) Wootton Creek coastal change study. Rep. no. 4309A/R01. Southampton
Halcrow W (1996) Isle of Wight shoreline management plan, vols. 1 and 2. Consultation document report. Isle of Wight Council and Environment Agency, Chichester
Harvey A (2004) Naturally and anthropogenically-induced processes affecting sediment transport, Wootton Creek, Isle of Wight. Rep. SOES 3027. SOES, Southampton University, Southampton
Herbich JB, Schiller RE (1984) Surges and waves generated by ships in a constricted channel. In: Edge BL (ed) Coastal engineering-1984. ACSE, New York, pp 3213–3226
Janson C-E (2002) Bernoulli waves in deep and shallow water at low speed. Ship Technol Res 49:142–147
JS Marine Consultants, Smyth H (2001) Erosion of the channel to the Fishbourne Ferry berth. Rep no 0104/3. Barnstaple
MacDonald NJ (2003) Numerical modelling of coupled drawdown and wake. In Proc Canadian Coastal Conf, 15–17 October 2003, Kingston, Canada. http://www.cciw.ca
Maynord ST (1996) Interim report for the Upper Mississippi River–Illinois Waterways System navigation study, physical forces near commercial tows. ENV Rep 19. US Army Engineers, Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg
Paphitis D, Collins MB (2005) Sediment resuspension events within the (microtidal) coastal waters of Thermaikos Gulf, Northern Greece. Cont Shelf Res 25:2350–2365
Robert West and Partners (1990) Wootton Creek, Fishbourne, Isle of Wight: evaluation of ferry induced erosion. Report to Medina Borough Council. Orpington
Soulsby RL (1997) Dynamics of marine sands. Thomas Telford, London
Stockstill RL, Berger RC (2001) Simulating barge drawdown and currents in channel and backwater areas. J Waterway Port Coastal Ocean Eng 127(5):290–298
Stumbo S, Fox K, Dvorak F, Elliott L (1999) The prediction, measurement and analysis of wake wash from marine vessels. Mar Technol SNAME News 36:248–260
Tomalin DJ (1993) Maritime archaeology as a coastal management issue: a Solent case study from the SCOPAC coast. In: The Regional Coastal Groups After the House of Commons 1992 Report: Proc Sem Standing Conf Problems Associated with the Coastline, Newport, Isle of Wight, pp 93–112
Velegrakis AF, Vousdoukas MI, Vagenas AM, Karambas Th, Dimou K, Zarkadas Th (2007) Field observations of waves generated by passing ships: a note. Coastal Eng 54:369–375
Verney R, Brun-Cottan J-C, Lafite R, Deloffre J, Taylor JA (2006) Tidally-induced shear stress variability above intertidal mudflats in the macrotidal Seine Estuary. Estuaries Coasts 29(4):653–664
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank A. Harvey, A. Symonds and C. Reed for their assistance during the deployment. Furthermore, we are grateful to Wightlink Limited, Cdr T.R. Herman and Mr. D. Young for permission to undertake the field measurements.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Garel, E., López Fernández, L. & Collins, M. Sediment resuspension events induced by the wake wash of deep-draft vessels. Geo-Mar Lett 28, 205–211 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-008-0101-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-008-0101-y