Modelling variable length tows and altitude-keeping with the Canadian Remote Minehunting and Disposal System

The minehunting scenario of a surface water platform towing, and mutually interacting with, its towbody in a maneuver with variable cable lengths and altitude-keeping to an arbitrary terrain is a realistic yet challenging dynamic situation to model. This paper describes and reports on developments of the SIMRMS modelling tool with emphasis on this scenario. The methodologies used are discussed as well as their validation against full scale sea trials data. To date, the authors have not seen such modelling capabilities for interactive tow cable systems reported in the literature.