CORDIS

The S@S project dealt with developing of a formalised methodology for design for safety of High Speed Craft (HSC) and a tool enabling the designer to reach an optimal solution with regards to overall safety and through life cost, i.e. a vessel that meets the required safety level at the lowest possible through life cost. The tool also enables a rational assessment of the cost implications of the variation of safety related parameters. This feature helps comparing in a short time different design solutions in terms of safety and cost level. The key innovative aspect of S@S lie on the development and implementation of a risk-based design for safety methodology for HSC which represents both the current trends and the future. Offering the designer of HSC choices based on quantitative information and a clear indication on return of investment cost aimed at safety improvement is highly innovative. Actual design methodologies for HSC do not provide the assessment of the balance between the issues of safety and cost. The tendency is to base decisions on best practice. These designs fulfil current safety design requirements, but it is unknown whether the resulting vessels are over-specified in one or more aspect and consequently too expensive to build or operate. The design for safety methodology and the tool promote the pro-active safety culture approach instead of the traditional reactive approach. They are prone to be used at early design stages in ship design, where creativity and innovation could be used to their maximum to achieve safety enhancements most cost-effectively, as considered over the lifetime of the ship. The integrated tool provides significant added values to all companies involved in the maritime & transport industry. Actors and stakeholders such as ship owners or passengers will not directly benefit from the use of the tool, however they will benefit from enhanced safety & increased comfort without incurring over costs. For shipbuilders the integrated tool is of primary interest as it addresses the key aspect of cost-effective safe design. Actually, the strategy of European shipbuilders to gain substantial market share is to maintain high quality standards in designing & building ships and to produce new generation ships at competitive costs. The shipyards will have an improved basis for designing and constructing safe and reliable high-speed craft at reduced cost. This leads to a better competitiveness for the shipping industry, in relation to other regions, but also in relation to other modes of transport. Another key aspect of the integrated tool is the potential use for other ship types. The "Design for Safety" methodology could be applied to other vessel types and with alternative focus such as design for comfort or environment.