The paper presents an innovative computer programs “Kalkulator” and “Sekwencja” for planning and simulation of cargo handling operations and the exchange of ballast water for bulk carrier B-517 series. The software is designed to develop and simulate particular loading stages based on the loading programs or water ballast exchange plans. The programs presented in article show new trends in development of loading calculators

During preliminary stages of ship design, decisions on ship properties are made only with little knowledge on ship hull geometry – a ship designer has only the basis dimensions at his disposal. Therefore on these initial stages of ship design, methods of calculation of ship properties (eg. resistance) on the basis of basic design criteria are indispensable. The article presents a new method of calculation of bulk carriers resistance which proves exact even with a minimum number of geometrical parameters of a ships hull.

While a ship is sailing, wind is acting upon the ship hull above water. As a result, additional resistance, as well as transfer drift force and drift moment emerge. The article presents an approximate method of calculating these forces for bulk carriers, in the form useful at preliminary ship design, when only basis ship dimensions are known.