Talk:Squat

Squat is the technical term for the interaction between a moving ship and the seabed in shallow water. As the water passes under the ship it accelerates and its pressure falls. The ship sinks deeper into the water and in extreme cases can be sucked down until it touches the bottom. Squat can cause difficulty in manoeuvring and has been the cause of many accidents. See refereences in the journals of the Royal Institute of navigation, among many others. Posted by Bill Cooper, Shipmaster.