Present work is focused on the investigation of the propagation characteristics of making wave on the free surface in finite depth water. On the basis of linear hydrodynamic theory, phase function was extracted from the integral representation of 3-D Kelvin source Green function in finite depth water. By adopting the stationary phase analysis method, the constant phase curves and propagation wave patterns were investigated at subcritical and supercritical speed zones respectively. Results indicate that the far field wave systems are composed of transverse and divergent wave patterns if depth Froude number F_h<1. If F_h>1, only divergent wave patterns are found in the far field. The influence scope of propagating waves above can be determined by the Kelvin angle whose degree changes with depth Froude number and increases to 90 degrees near the critical depth Froude number F_h=1. Based on the geometrical parameters, such as ship model particulars, relative position of two ships and tank breadth, a discriminant method is proposed for two ship models advancing parallel in calm water of finite depth, which is taken the side wall effects into account in towing tank. In this discrimination method, the interferences of the reflected steady waves from the tank walls, which may act on both ships, are also considered. Under the experimental conditions, the side wall effects are examined in a two-model test.