Development of propulsion solutions for river-sea ships of the northern Black Sea

Conception of hull form and propulsion design of river-sea ships essentially depends on the restrictions of specific inland waterways. River-sea ships of the Northern Black Sea were historically designed for operation through the locks of European inland waterways of the former Soviet Union. River-sea vessels of the late Soviet Union were designed as simple and technological. After dramatic economical changes the ships of new generation acquired completely different features of general and propulsion design. The vessels had unusually full hull forms and azimuthal thrusters. As is shown in the paper, the full hull forms have sound economic grounds for the considered ship type. However, azimuthal thrusters have controversial features and are not non-alternative. Based on analysis of previous and current propulsion solutions their further development is proposed within the considered ship type. Hull forms designed with specially developed CFD methods are recommended as a further step toward propulsion optimality.