There are many things you can do with GHS; it evolved to become a combination of an analysis program and its own programming language, specific to hydrostatic analysis. Examples include:
- Draft and basic hydrostatic values (displacement, LCB, VCB, LCF, KMT, KML, etc.)
- Intact stability analysis (rules implementation and evaluation)
- Damage stability analysis (damage combinations)
- Max VCG searches, for intact or damage stability
- Floodable lengths
- Many more
Why GHS Tutorials
The allure of GHS is its flexibility. It gives the user complete custom control over their analysis. However, this flexibility also lends to a high learning curve. Creative Systems (makers of GHS) do offer training in GHS. But often, this does not help new engineers. There are many reasons why new engineers don’t get training. Perhaps the company can not afford it at the moment. Or maybe the class is not available for 6 months, and project work must continue. Too often, engineers have learned GHS simply by reading through the reference manual. Reference manuals do not provide the structure and layered introduction necessary for training in new software. Too help out all new GHS users, DMS provided a series of video tutorials, which introduce the main elements of GHS. This will not cover all the features of GHS, but it will provide 90% of everything you should know for basic project work. All the tutorials include videos and homework files that let you practice your skill sets. The tutorials are divided into several categories and each video covers a specific subject. They are intended for people to work through them sequentially. Click on the links below for each category.Contact Creative Systems
If you want more information about official training, you can contact Creative Systems, the creators of GHS.Website: www.ghsport.com
Phone: +1 360 385 6212
Email: sales@ghsport.com
Post: P.O. Box 1910, Port Townsend, WA 98368 USA
Tutorials
- Date
- 2021-Jun-30
This first video introduces the tutorial series and GHS in general. We provide an overview of the course, and an introduction to GHS.- Date
- 2021-Jun-04
Introduces the tutorial series and provides an overview of what these tutorials will cover.- Date
- 2021-Jun-30
Provides a variety of strategies for model creation. Explains how GHS organizes vessel models. Provides detailed explanation of creating a vessel in Part Maker.- Date
- 2021-Jul-01
How to format your output from GHS. Includes basic report generation and formatting. Also explains the powerful tool of condition graphics, which create visual representations of the vessel.- Date
- 2021-Jul-01
Basic hydrostatics for the vessel. How to set vessel conditions, including draft and trim, adding weight, loading tanks, etc. Also covers the status command, and its many options. Completes with the GHS command and all the information covered in its standard hydrostatic table.- Date
- 2021-Jul-01
Introduces the limits command to apply regulatory limits. Covers generation and use of the GZ curve. Explains the various types of heeling moments possible in GHS. Provides detailed explanation of how to code the IMO severe wind and roll criteria. Finishes with the MaxVCG command.- Date
- 2021-Jul-01
Explains how to damage compartments. Proceeds to cover deterministic damage stability (specifying individual damage cases.) And explains the wizard for probabilistic damage stability. Finishes with floodable lengths.- Date
- 2021-Jul-02
Covers longitudinal strength analysis. Explains basic longitudinal strength command, how to specify frame locations, adding limits to longitudinal strength, and applying waves for quasi-static analysis of longitudinal strength.- Date
- 2021-Jul-02
The main advantage of GHS is the power of automation. With the scripting capabilities, you can perform batch processing, iterate through dozens of combinations, and customize analyzes to handle unique scenarios.- Date
- 2021-Jul-02
The special features are any items that really did not fall under any other category related GHS.
Meet the Author
These tutorials are published by Nicholas Barczak and represent his knowledge and experience with GHS. He has worked with GHS for over seven years in a variety of applications including:- Barges
- Fishing vessels
- Work vessels
- Ferries
- Passenger vessels
- Research vessels
- Heavy lift transport vessels
- Small military vessels (under 6.0 m)
- Specialty vessels
- Numerous concept designs
- Hydrostatics
- Initial concept evaluation
- Floodable lengths
- Longitudinal strength
- Intact stability analysis (USCG, IMO CCG)
- Damage stability analysis (USCG, IMO, CCG)
- Numerous specialty applications.

There is still plenty I can learn about GHS. But I believe I have used it enough to learn its strengths and weaknesses.
License
The tutorials, videos, and associated downloads are published under the creative commons license. They may be redistribution without permission, provided credit is given to the original author. believe I have used it enough to learn its strengths and weaknesses.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.