Statistical Analysis and Determination of

Regression Formulas for

Main Dimensions of Container Ships
based on IHS Fairplay Data

Technical University of Denmark

Hans Otto Kristensen

Project no. 2010-56, Emissionsbeslutningsstøttesystem

Work Package 2, Report no. 03
February 2013
 Determination of Regression Formulas for Main Dimensions
of Container Ships based on IHS Fairplay Data

This report shows the results of the analysis of IHS Fairplay main data for container ships. All
possible outliers have been left out (obvious errors in data) as described in following document:

Data Analyses – Standard Vessel Determination. Tankers, Bulk Carries and Container Vessels.
Project no. 2010-56. Work Package 2, Report no. 01. University of Southern Denmark. Author:
Marie Lützen

Container ships have been categorized in following 3 groups:

1. Feeder ships (TEU < 2900)

2. Panamax ships (1900 < TEU < 5300)
3. Post Panamax ships (TEU > 4000)

The equations found by regression analysis are shown for each individual ship sub type. The
equations are basis for the generic ship design model for determination of main dimension and
propulsion characteristics for all types of container ships – in the following called ‘DTU and SDU
model’.

As can be seen there is some overlap between the three sub categories. The Panamax ships have
a breadth limitation of 32.2 m, an operational draught limitation of 12.0 m and a max overall length
of 294.10, which define the upper limits of this group. The same is valid for Post Panamax ships
with respect to a lower limit, as all ships with a breadth more than 32.2 m are categorized as Post
Panamax ships.

In the coming years the Post Panamax group will be subdivided in two parts by the coming
Panama Canal limitations which will be valid from 2014, when the new Panama Canal is expected
to be opened. The new limitations on Panamax ships in the future will be as follows (Marine
Technology 2011): Length overall: 366.00 m, breadth: 49.00 m, draught: 15.24 m

List of Appendices

Appendix A - Small container ships page 4

Appendix B – Panamax container ships page 6

Appendix C – Post Panamax container ships page 8

Appendix D – Water plane area coefficient and draught change page 10

1
 390

350 54

310
46
Length pp (m)

Breadth (m)
270

38
230

190 All container ships

30
Yellow dots indicate DTU and SDU
150 default model values All container ships
22 Yellow dots indicate DTU and SDU
110 default model values

70 14
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. 1 Length between pp as function of TEU Fig. 2 Breadth as function of TEU

33 16

29

13
25
Draught (m)
Depth (m)

21
10
17
All container ships
All container ships
13 Yellow dots indicate DTU and SDU
7 Yellow dots indicate DTU and SDU
default model values
default model values
9

5 4
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. 3 Depth as function of TEU Fig. 4 Maximum draught as function of TEU

50000 140000

All container ships

120000
40000
Yellow dots indicate DTU and SDU
default model values
100000
Deadweight (t)
Lightweight (t)

30000
80000

60000
20000

40000
10000 All container ships
20000 Yellow dots indicate DTU and SDU
default model values
0 0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. 5 Lightweight as function of TEU Fig. 6 Deadweight as function of TEU

2
 0.30 18

All container ships All container ships

0.25 Yellow dots indicate DTU and SDU Yellow dots indicate DTU and SDU
16
default model values
Lightweight/Lpp/B/D (t/m 3)

default model values

0.20

Dw/TEU t/m 3)
14

0.15

12
0.10

10
0.05

0.00 8
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. 7 Lightweight coefficient as function of TEU Fig. 8 Deadweight/TEU as function of TEU

0.80 7.0

0.75 6.5

0.70 6.0
Block coefficient

Lpp/Depl.vol1/3

0.65 5.5

0.60 5.0

All container ships All container ships

0.55 4.5 Yellow dots indicate DTU and SDU
Yellow dots indicate DTU and SDU
default model values default model values
0.50 4.0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. 9 Block coefficient as function of TEU Fig. 10 Length displacement ratio as function of
TEU

3
Appendix A - Small container ships (< 2900 TEU)

Length pp = 10.14 * TEU0.378

Breadth = 2.9 * TEU0.3

Depth = 0.767 * TEU0.394

Draught = 0.827 * TEU0.336

Lightweight/Lpp/B/D = 0.659 * TEU-0.23

Deadweight/TEU = 13.65

230 34

0.378 0.3
y = 10.14x y = 2.9x
200 30
R2 = 0.95 R2 = 0.92
Length pp (m)

170
Breadth (m)

26

140 22

IHS Fairplay data

IHS Fairplay data
110 DTU-SDU model 18 DTU-SDU model
Power (IHS Fairplay data) Potens (IHS Fairplay data)

80
14
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Container capacity (TEU)
Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. A1 Length between pp as function of TEU Fig. A2 Breadth as function of TEU

21 14
0.394
y = 0.767x
R2 = 0.87 y = 0.827x
0.336
12
17 R2 = 0.88
Draught (m)

10
Depth (m)

13

IHS Fairplay data

IHS Fairplay data
9 DTU-SDU model
6 DTU-SDU model
Potens (IHS Fairplay data)
Potens (IHS Fairplay data)

5 4
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. A3 Depth as function of TEU Fig. A4 Maximum draught as function of TEU

4
 0.80 6.5

0.75
6.0

0.70
Block coefficient

Lpp/Depl.vol1/3
5.5

0.65

5.0
0.60
IHS Fairplay data
IHS Fairplay data
4.5
0.55 DTU-SDU model DTU-SDU model

Potens (IHS Fairplay data) Potens (IHS Fairplay data)

0.50 4.0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. A5 Block coefficient as function of TEU Fig. A6 Length displacement ratio as function of
TEU

20 0.30

IHS Fairplay data

18 0.25 DTU-SDU model
Potens (IHS Fairplay data)
Lightweight/Lpp/B/D (t/m 3)

16 0.20
Dw/TEU (t/TEU)

14 0.15

12 0.10

-0.23
y = 0.659x
10 IHS Fairplay data 0.05
R2 = 0.25
DTU-SDU model

8 0.00
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. A7 Deadweight/TEU as function of TEU Fig. A8 Lightweight coefficient as function of TEU

5
Appendix B – Panamax container ships (1900 – 5300 TEU)

Length pp = 2.494 * TEU0.555 (< = 3800 TEU)

Length pp = 241.92 + (TEU – 3800) * 0.037 (>3800 TEU)

Breadth = 32.22 m

Depth = 14.77 + 0.0013 * TEU

Draught = 2.19 * TEU0.211 (<= 3300 TEU)

Draught = 12.1 + (TEU – 3300) * 0.00082 (> 3300 TEU)

Lightweight/Lpp/B/D = 0.105

Deadweight/TEU = 14.6 – 0.00038 * TEU

The regression formulas for the length and the draught have been split into two formulas
respectively, in order to obtain the best possible curve fit, for length and draught. These
adjustments were also carried out to obtain the best fitted values for the block coefficient and the
length displacement ratio, which are calculated indirectly on basis of all the regression formulas, for
the main dimensions and the weights.

300 32.4

y = -2E-07x + 32.22
x < 3800
R2 = 2E-05
270 y = 2.494x0.555
2
R = 0.83 32.3
Length pp (m)

240
Breadth (m)

32.2

210
IHS Fairplay data
IHS Fairplay data
32.1 DTU-SDU model
DTU-SDU model
180 Lineær (IHS Fairplay data)
Potens (IHS Fairplay data)

150 32.0
1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800 5300 1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800 5300
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. B1 Length between pp as function of TEU Fig. B2 Breadth as function of TEU

6
 24 14
y = 0.0013x + 14.77
2
R = 0.38
x < 3300
21 13 y = 2.19x0.211
2
R = 0.59

Draught (m)
Depth (m)

18 12

IHS Fairplay data IHS Fairplay data

15 11
DTU-SDU model DTU-SDU model
Lineær (IHS Fairplay data) Potens (IHS Fairplay data)

12 10
1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800 5300 1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800 5300
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. B3 Depth as function of TEU Fig. B4 Maximum draught as function of TEU

0.80 7.0

0.75
6.5

0.70
Block coefficient

Lpp/Depl.vol1/3

6.0

0.65

5.5
0.60
IHS Fairplay data
IHS Fairplay data
5.0 DTU-SDU model
0.55 DTU-SDU model
Potens (IHS Fairplay data)
Potens (IHS Fairplay data)

0.50 4.5
1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800 5300 1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800 5300
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. B5 Block coefficient as function of TEU Fig. B6 Length displacement ratio as function of
TEU

0.15 16
y = - 0.00038x + 14.6
R2 = 0.06
0.12
Lightweight/Lpp/B/D (t/m 3)

14
Dw/TEU (t/TEU)

0.09

0.06
12
IHS Fairplay data
y = 2E-06x + 0.0999 IHS Fairplay data
0.03 DTU-SDU model
R2 = 0.005
Lineær (IHS Fairplay data) DTU-SDU model
Lineær (IHS Fairplay data)
0.00 10
1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800 5300 1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800 5300

Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. B7 Lightweight coefficient as function of TEU Fig, B8 Deadweight/TEU as function of TEU

7
Appendix C – Post Panamax container ships (> 4000 TEU)

Length pp = 131.31 + 0.03012 * TEU – 0.00000099556 * TEU2 (<= 8000 TEU)

Length pp = 14.66 * TEU0.339 (> 8000 TEU)

Breadth = 32.51 + 0.0013 * TEU

Depth = MIN(30.2,16.5 + 0.0011 * TEU)

Draught = 12.73 + 0.0002 * TEU

Lightweight/Lpp/B/D = MAX(0.09,0.104 – 0.00000115 * TEU)

Dw/TEU = MAX(11.2;50.43 * TEU-0.16)

The regression formula for the length has been split into two formulas, in order to obtain the best
possible curve fit, for the length. This adjustment was also carried out to obtain the best fitted
values for the block coefficient and the length displacement ratio, which are calculated indirectly on
basis of all the regression formulas, for the main dimensions and the weights.

390 57
<= 8000 TEU
2 IHS Fairplay data
y = -0.00000099556x + 0.030116x + 131.31 54
DTU-SDU model
360
Statistical outliers
51
Linear (IHS Fairplay data)
>8000 TEU
Length pp (m)

330
Breadth (m)

0.339
y = 14.66x 48
R2 = 0.89
45
300
IHS Fairplay data
DTU-SDU model 42
Statistical outliers
270 y = 0.0013x + 32.51
Additional data (<8000 TEU) 39 2
Power (IHS Fairplay data) R = 0.82
Poly. (Additional data (<8000 TEU))
240 36
4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. C1 Length between pp as function of TEU Fig. C2 Breadth as function of TEU

8
 32 17

y = 0.0002x + 12.73
16
R2 = 0.30
29
15

Draught (m)
Depth (m)

26 14

IHS Fairplay data 13

23 DTU-SDU model IHS Fairplay data
Statistical outliers DTU-SDU model
12
Statistical outliers
Linear (IHS Fairplay data)
20 11
4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. C3 Depth as function of TEU Fig. C4 Maximum draught as function of TEU

0.80 6.6

0.75
6.4

0.70
Block coefficient

Lpp/Depl.vol1/3

6.2

0.65

6.0
0.60
IHS Fairplay data IHS Fairplay data
DTU-SDU model
Statistical outliers 5.8
0.55 Statistical outliers
DTU-SDU model Power (IHS Fairplay data)
Power (IHS Fairplay data)
0.50 5.6
4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. C5 Block coefficient as function of TEU Fig. C6 Length displacement ratio as function of
TEU

0.12 15

IHS Fairplay data

0.10 DTU- SDU model
14
Statistical outliers
Lightweight/Lpp/B/D (t/m 3)

Power (IHS Fairplay data)

0.08
Dw/TEU (t/TEU)

13 y = 50.43x
-0.16

y = -0.00000115x + 0.104 R2 = 0.29

0.06 2
R = 0.05
12
0.04
IHS Fairplay data
0.02 DTU-SDU model 11
Linear (IHS Fairplay data)

0.00 10
4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000 11000 12000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. C7 Lightweight coefficient as function of Fig. C8 Deadweight/TEU as unction of TEU

TEU

9
Appendix D – Water plane area coefficient and draught change

The water plane area coefficient, Cw, at maximum draught, for container ships is shown in Fig. D1
for ships in the IHS Fairplay data base.

Cw depends on the block coefficient, Cb, as follows:

Cw = 0.55 + 0.45 Cb

where Cw and Cb are calculated on basis of the length between pp.

0.95 0.95

Cb = 0,66 Cb = 0,61 Cb = 0,68 Cb = 0,65

0.90

Waterplane area coefficient (-)

Cb = 0,60 Cb = 0,64 Cb = 0,62 Cb = 0,65
Waterplane area coefficient

0.90

0.85

0.85 0.80

0.75
0.80
0.70
y = 0.45x + 0.55

0.75 0.65
0.55 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 50 60 70 80 90 100
Block coefficient Relative displacement (%)

Fig. D1 Water plane area coefficient as function Fig. D2 Water plane area coefficient as
of the block coefficient for container ships (IHS function the relative displacement
Fairplay)

In Fig. D2 is shown the water plane area coefficient as function of the relative displacement for
some container ships, for which more detailed information has been available. Based on the
results in Fig. D2, the water plane area coefficient at a displacement can be approximated as
follows:

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

It is important to know the how the water plane area coefficient depends on the displacement as it
is used to calculate the draught change due to change of the displacement.

Maximum/scantling draught and design draught

All data presented in this report are presented as function of the maximum deadweight.

Normally two draughts are specified for container ships, namely the design draught and the
scantling draught. The design draught is the draught at which the ship is expected to operate
normally, while the scantling draught is the maximum permissible draught according to the class
rules. Comparison of scantling draught data (Significant Ships, 1990 – 2010) with summer load line
draught data (denoted maximum draught in this report and in the IHS Fairplay data base) shows

10
that the summer load line draught is nearly identical with the scantling draught (Fig. D3). The
summer load line is the maximum permitted draught at which both stability and strength
requirements are fulfilled, i.e. it is maximum draught approved by the Maritime Authorities.

The design draught is less than the scantling draught, which is shown in Fig. D4 based on data for
255 container ships from Significant Ships (1990 – 2010). Regression formulas for determination of
the design draught as function of TEU have been developed as follows (see Fig. D5):

Design draught = MIN(12; 1.188 * TEU0.279) for Panamax and feeder ships

Design draught = 4.83 * TEU0.11 for Post Panamax ships

16 16

13 13

Draught (m)
Draught (m)

10 10

Max. draught (IHS Fairplay) Design draught (Significant Ships)

7 7
Scantling draught (Significant Ships) Scantling draught (Significant Ships)

4 4
0 3000 6000 9000 12000 15000 0 3000 6000 9000 12000 15000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. D3 Maximum draught for container ships Fig. D4 Design draught versus scantling
(IHS Fairplay) compared with scantling draught draught for container ships according to
according to Significant Ships (1990 – 2010) Significant Ships (1990 – 2010)

16 16
0.279
y = 1.188x
2
R = 0.89
13 13
Design draught (m)

0.11
y = 4.83x
2
Draught (m)

R = 0.27
10 10

Panamax ships (Significant Ships)

Maximum draught (IHS Fairplay data)
Post Panamax ships (Significant Ships)
7 7 Design Draught (DTU-SDU model)
Potens (Panamax ships (Significant Ships))
Potens (Post Panamax ships (Significant Ships)) Maximum draught (DTU-SDU model)

4 4
0 3000 6000 9000 12000 15000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. D5 Design draught for container ships Fig. D6 Design and scantling draught according
according to Significant Ships (1990 – 2010) to DTU-SDU model

11
For container ships, the design displacement is 85 % to 90 % of the maximum displacement which
means that Cw ~ 0.45 ⋅ Cb + 0.55. The design deadweight can then be calculated according to this
approximate formula:

( )⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ( ) ⋅

The resulting design deadweight is shown in Fig. D7, where it is compared with design deadweight
data from Significant Ships (1990 – 2010).

150000 160000

120000
120000

Maximum deadweight (t)

Design deadweight (m)

90000

80000

60000

Panamax ships (Significant Ships) 40000 Panamax ships (Significant Ships)

30000
Post Panamax ships (Significant Ships) Post Panamax ships (Significant Ships)
DTU-SDU model DTU-SDU model

0 0
0 3000 6000 9000 12000 15000 0 3000 6000 9000 12000 15000
Container capacity (TEU) Container capacity (TEU)

Fig. D7 Design deadweight Fig. D8 Maximum deadweight

12