ABSTRACTWhen formulating a general, non-linear mathematical model of ship dynamics in waves the hydrostatic forces and moments along with the Froude-Krylov part of wave load are usually concerned. Normally radiation and the diffraction forces are regarded as linear ones. The paper discusses briefly few approaches, which can be used in this respect. The concerned models attempt to model the non-linearities of the surface waves; both regular and the irregular ones, and the non-linearities of the restoring forces and moments. The approach selected in the Laidyn method, which is meant for the evaluation of large amplitude motions in the 6 degrees-of-freedom, is presented in a bigger detail. The workability of the method is illustrated with the ...