FOM-3.30	Fleet Operations Manual Navigation Shallow Water Effects	Doc No.: FOM-3.30 Revision: 01 Date: 15 Oct 2024 Issued by: DPA Approved by: MD

When a ship is transiting close to land and has deep water on the other side, there is a tendency, due to the vessel’s form, for the bow to turn away or the stern to be pulled towards the land.

This is called a Bow cushion or a Bank suction effect and could cause a vessel to violently sheer away from the course she is following.

This happens when a vessel in transit passes by a shallow bank on any side. The resultant effect is for the bow to swing towards the shallow area. This is known as smelling the ground.