diff --git a/moorpy/system.py b/moorpy/system.py
index 5638c90..a358524 100644
--- a/moorpy/system.py
+++ b/moorpy/system.py
@@ -93,8 +93,14 @@ def __init__(self, file="", dirname="", rootname="", depth=0, rho=1025, g=9.81,
         
         if 'bathymetry' in kwargs:
             self.seabedMod = 2
-            self.bathGrid_Xs, self.bathGrid_Ys, self.bathGrid = readBathymetryFile(kwargs['bathymetry'])
-        
+            if isinstance(kwargs['bathymetry'],str):
+                self.bathGrid_Xs, self.bathGrid_Ys, self.bathGrid = readBathymetryFile(kwargs['bathymetry'])
+            elif isinstance(kwargs['bathymetry'],dict):
+                bath_dictionary = kwargs['bathymetry']
+                # grid sent in, just assign to properties
+                self.bathGrid_Xs = bath_dictionary['x']
+                self.bathGrid_Ys = bath_dictionary['y']
+                self.bathGrid = bath_dictionary['depth']        
         
         # initializing variables and lists        
         self.nDOF = 0       # number of (free) degrees of freedom of the mooring system (needs to be set elsewhere)