Field measurements of tug waves in the Cagliari Harbor, Italy

Field measurements of ship-generated waves were performed in the Cagliari Harbor where tugboats are significant wave generators that can adversely affect small-sized moored vessels. A method is proposed in which the major characteristics of the ship-generated waves in areas where wind waves and swell occur can be assessed and presented. The requirements and limitations of the method are also discussed. The results of the method application to field data were compared to an extensively used empirical equation from the literature for the prediction of the maximum wave height generated by tug passages. Although this comparison was affected by the uncertainties in the formation and propagation of ship-generated waves, it confirmed the practical validity of the proposed method.