NAUTICUS - a life-cycle approach to ship design and decision support

New tools open up possibilities for improvement of the prevailing calculation procedures and acceptance criteria used by the Class Societies. DNV's criteria have since early 1970's incorporated state-of-the-art computational methods for hull assessment, such as direct loads and stress response calculations using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Such methods, also known as first-principle calculations, have during the 1990's also been adopted as an industry standard by most of the other Class Societies. DNV is now taking the next step, further refining the first-principle basis of our acceptance criteria. This includes more extensive use of Finite Element Analysis, as well as enhanced criteria for fatigue evaluation. More radical than this, DNV now introduce alternative acceptance criteria to cater for a risk-based approach, combined with an alternative survey scheme for the in-service period. Altogether, these new criteria is the basis for the NAUTICUS class notations, which, supported by the NAUTICUS information system sets a new standard for information availability and decision support. The NAUTICUS information system is being developed to include comprehensive support for hull condition and maintenance monitoring, utilising state-of-the-art Product Model technology, including creation of a 3D graphical model. Thereby, the system will benefit yards, owners and class, by speeding up the design and classification processes while maintaining or even improving the quality of the ships. Further, it may contribute to more cost-efficient management of both safe and environmental friendly ships.