🔍 Key Concepts

• Bank cushion vs bank suction when a vessel is close to a river bank • How water flow and pressure change around the bow and stern in shallow, confined water • Relationship between higher water pressure and the direction the hull is pushed

💭 Think About

• Picture a ship moving ahead close to a river bank in shallow water: which end (bow or stern) meets the water first and builds up pressure against the bank? • If water is squeezed between the bow and the bank, does that create more or less pressure on the bank side of the bow? What does that do to the vessel’s heading? • Think about which effect would tend to push the bow away from the bank and which effect would tend to pull the stern toward the bank.

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on the definition of bank cushion (acting on the bow) and do not confuse it with bank suction (acting more on the stern) • Identify which side is the land (bank) side and which part of the vessel (bow or stern) feels the cushion effect first • Verify whether increased pressure on a side of the hull would push that part of the vessel away from the bank or pull it toward the bank