These experiments are focused on the stage previous to the sinking manoeuvre, in which the towing boats are positioned so as to initiate the sinking operation and which, indeed, is a critical stage in the sinking manoeuvre.

The experiments are carried out inside the HRL-UPM facilities, using three towing boats designed, constructed and instrumented inside the laboratory according to the scale factor chosen. Test cases include different configurations under operative sea states.

Test cases included two tug boats configurations and different irregular wave conditions tested at the HRL-UPM wave basin.