The reduction of rolling provides better fuel/speed performance on rough seas, enhances crew safety and possibly their efficiency. The roll amplitude can be reduced by passive devices, such as bilge keels, or by active devices, such as hydrofoilshaped fins usually located near amidships, port side and starboard. In a seaway, hydraulic tilting gear continuously varies the angle of attack of the fins, to produce heeling moments reducing the ship tendency to roll. Active-fin stabilisers require ship forward motion in order to develop lift. They are available as folding types or non-retractable construction. For many years active-fin stabilisers have been applied on cruise ships and passenger vessels as a means of reducing excessive rolling. Today, owners of other types of vessels, especially large containerships, are increasingly specifying fin stabilisers.
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