National Transport Library Research Database

Design for safety: an integrated approach to safe European ro-ro ferry design

Subject(s): Online resources: Abstract: The strategic objective of SAFER EURORO TN is to facilitate the development of a formalised design methodology for safer ships by promoting an integrated approach that links behaviour prediction through the utilisation of appropriate technical “tools”, risk assessment deriving from risk-based methodologies for assessing ship safety and disparate design activities and issues. Specific objectives relate to the co-ordination in the development of a series of quantifiable, readily available and evolutionary “tools”, that enable the analysis, interaction and interface of all the organisational, procedural, operational, technological, environmental and human related factors concerning the occurrence of accidental or extreme events at sea. The impact of SAFER EURORO on the maritime industry of EU over the past four years has been manifold, but the most significant by far must be the instillation of a strong belief in the maritime industry that safety by design is a feasible proposition, which in turn helps to promote a safety culture that spans the whole profession. Major achievements in the strife for cost-effective safer ships through the activities of SAFER EURORO (brought to greater focus by the well publicised recent marine disasters, notably the ERIKA) include: • The subject of safety has been forced to the forefront of developments, giving way to scientific approaches to assessing safety at the expense of the traditionally governing empiricism. • The European Commission has actively responded to these challenges by retaining 12 proposals on “Design for Safety” prepared through SAFER EURORO (9 concerning safer Ro-Ro/passenger ships and 3 addressing the safety of high-speed craft), amounting to 45 M€ of funding. • The internationalisation of the TN output, the significant contribution to the regulatory process and the increasing realisation by industry that scientific approaches to dealing with ship safety offer unique opportunities to building and sustaining competitive advantage, have helped in creating a momentum that is now proving to provide the “fuel” and the inspiration towards achieving the goals of the TN. • More importantly, the effective co-operation between all the major players and stakeholders in the EU maritime industry led to a closer collaboration and to increased trust and respect of each of the partners potential and strengths. EU can only be better for it. Abstract: The strategic objective of SAFER EURORO TN is to facilitate the development of a formalised design methodology for safer ships by promoting an integrated approach that links behaviour prediction through the utilisation of appropriate technical “tools”, risk assessment deriving from risk-based methodologies for assessing ship safety and disparate design activities and issues. Specific objectives relate to the co-ordination in the development of a series of quantifiable, readily available and evolutionary “tools”, that enable the analysis, interaction and interface of all the organisational, procedural, operational, technological, environmental and human related factors concerning the occurrence of accidental or extreme events at sea. The impact of SAFER EURORO on the maritime industry of EU over the past four years has been manifold, but the most significant by far must be the instillation of a strong belief in the maritime industry that safety by design is a feasible proposition, which in turn helps to promote a safety culture that spans the whole profession. Major achievements in the strife for cost-effective safer ships through the activities of SAFER EURORO (brought to greater focus by the well publicised recent marine disasters, notably the ERIKA) include: • The subject of safety has been forced to the forefront of developments, giving way to scientific approaches to assessing safety at the expense of the traditionally governing empiricism. • The European Commission has actively responded to these challenges by retaining 12 proposals on “Design for Safety” prepared through SAFER EURORO (9 concerning safer Ro-Ro/passenger ships and 3 addressing the safety of high-speed craft), amounting to 45 M€ of funding. • The internationalisation of the TN output, the significant contribution to the regulatory process and the increasing realisation by industry that scientific approaches to dealing with ship safety offer unique opportunities to building and sustaining competitive advantage, have helped in creating a momentum that is now proving to provide the “fuel” and the inspiration towards achieving the goals of the TN. • More importantly, the effective co-operation between all the major players and stakeholders in the EU maritime industry led to a closer collaboration and to increased trust and respect of each of the partners potential and strengths. EU can only be better for it.
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