ABSTRACT: This paper presents the development of a displacement measurement system for small-scale physical models of moored ships, aimed at providing data to evaluate displacement amplitudes and determine whether they surpass predetermined operational limits. The system, which combines cameras and inertial sensors, captures six degrees of freedom, allowing measurements of surge, sway, heave, yaw, roll, and pitch. The developed system was initially tested isolating each degree of freedom for analysis, and subsequently applied to a scale model of a port terminal berth, with a bulk carrier vessel docked, subject to wave action. Scale models of port terminals have been extensively validated over numerous years of research and development. To evaluate the system's response, displacement measurements obtained through the developed system were compared with a commercial system widely recognized for measuring rigid body movements, the Qualisys® system. This comparison shows both systems obtained similar results, indicating that the developed system meets its intended purpose. Overall, the system provides a reliable tool for studying the complex behavior of moored vessels and evaluating operational and safety conditions in port terminals.

KEYWORDS: Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), Measurement System, Ship's Movement, Mooring Plan, Physical Scale Modelling, Ship's Mooring, Reduced Scale Models, Port Engineering

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