As the maritime activity level in European waters is increasing, the importance of adequate monitoring tools to control the structural integrity of a maritime structure, and thereby the risk of potential breakdown is increasingly important. Equally important are rational tools that give the ship master intelligent guidance on the choice of speed, course and ballast condition, so that all relevant responses (motions, accelerations, bending moments, stresses etc.) are within acceptable limits. Such tools will also assist in operating the ship optimally during moderate conditions to reduce motions, fuel consumption and fatigue damage accumulation. It can also provide the owners with information about how the ship has been operated from day to day, reasons for potential cargo damage, fatigue damage status and recent damage accumulation, as well as documentation of structural status needed for inspection planning and towards new owners and authorities.

Therefore the motive for the proposed project is twofold; namely to actively support the potential for a reduction of risk and injuries, and to arrive at a system for profitable prevention of cost consequences of structural damage, damage to cargo or reduced passenger comfort caused by excessive motions and accelerations.

Objective

The overall objective of the HullMon+ project is

To minimise the risk of loss of lives, damage to the environment and loss of value caused by structural breakdown of ships or maritime structures due to heavy weather or fatigue.

This will be achieved through development and implementation of

intelligent systems for active direct monitoring of motions, loads, stresses and accumulation of fatigue damage in maritime structures
on-board and on-shore systems providing active guidance to the ship master, the ship operator and to ship owners and owners of other maritime structures

You can read more at the HullMon+ project's own website.

Contact person at MARINTEK: Øyvind Hellan

Published January 28, 2005