Hydrodynamic Performance Assessment of Long-Line Oyster Farming Systems

Abstract This study investigates the hydrodynamic performance of a long-line farming system for Pacific oyster cultivation under regular and irregular wave conditions. Numerical simulations were performed to evaluate buoy motions and mooring line tensions based on the Morison equation and the lumped mass line model. Under regular wave conditions, the results indicated that the frontmost buoys exhibited less heave motion because the stretched frontal mooring line induced additional stiffness, while rearward buoys experienced larger displacements. A similar trend was observed in irregular wave simulation cases, where the power spectral density (PSD) of buoy heave motion demonstrated greater responses at peak wave frequencies for rearward buoys. Mooring line tensions were significantly higher in the frontal mooring lines compared to those at the rear, with snap loading observed in the latter under extreme wave condition. The study highlights the critical impact of wave conditions and mooring configurations on the system’s dynamic behavior. To enhance structural stability and prevent line failures, design modifications such as additional mooring buoys or clumps are recommended.