Risk-based framework for ship and structural design accounting for maintenance planning

Abstract

This work develops a risk-based framework for a ship and structural design accounting for maintenance planning. The risk analysed here covers structural failure where, it is deemed as a failure when the structural capacity is less than the subjected loads, reducing the stipulated margin of safety. The risk in this context also includes hazards such as accidental spills, loss of cargo, ship and crew members during the operations stage. For structural failure, time profiles of performance, which will incorporate structural degradation in conjunction with ship hull strength to predict the expected behaviour in terms of structural integrity is analysed. The profiles are envisaged to be approximate as they are based on the limited data available during the early design stage. The risk-cantered maintenance methodology is applied for determining the maintenance plan of a ship hull structural system and permits the developed framework to be used in the early stage of design, accounting for different hazard scenarios, specific economic environment and degradation severity along the service life.