The Ship’s Propeller Rotation Threshold for Coral Reef Ecosystems Based on Sediment Rate Indicators: Literature Review with Bibliometric Analysis and Experiments

The rotation of ship propellers produces water flows that can trigger erosion and resuspension of sediment on the seabed, which damages coral reef habitats. The causal relationship between propeller rotation and coral reef damage must be known to obtain the necessary environmental constraints. This research uses bibliometric analysis and experiments to determine safe propeller rotation thresholds based on sediment rate indicators. The water flow velocity from the propeller rotation was measured through experiments in various rotations. The sedimentation rate is determined using empirical calculations based on the water flow velocity value. The analysis results determine that the rotation threshold for a propeller diameter (Dp) of 1.5 m is: (a) 120 rpm if the vertical position of the propeller axis is 0.5Dp above the seabed; (b) 230 rpm if the vertical position of the propeller axis is 1.0Dp above the seabed; and (c) 360 rpm if the vertical position of the propeller axis is ≥ 1.5Dp above the seabed. The results of this research become a benchmark for the environmentally friendly operation of ship propellers.