Page 35 - Practical Design Ships and Floating Structures

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Today, ship & offshore engineering design have developed from singularity to complexity, from
ambiguity to accuracy, from safety to safety economics. It is predictable that in the 2 1 st" century, ship
& offshore installation design standard as well as design technology will develop at a rapid speed.

3.5 Initiatives taken by cIassifcafion societies with regard to sewices

To reduce the freight cost, it is inevitable to increase the size of the ships. VLCC, large-size container
ships and bulk carriers are the main force of the international shipping. The development of building
technology of such ships will remain the prevailing trend for a considerable period in the future. In my
opinions, it is in such areas that classification societies should remain their advantages at the following
aspects in order to provide better services. The objective of these initiatives is to:

- promote the scientific research and rules formation, so that classification societies are equipped
with an ability in structural design and strength analysis of ships with added hi-tech and hi-value,
and that the rules and guidelines affected can meet the present application on the one hand and are
forward-looking on the other;
- train a contingent of well qualified bellwethers and followers in science and technology;
- search and conclude the new mode of operation in rules and research by focusing on the customer
and market needs, its main contents being as follows:
- to integrate the updating requirements of IMO & IACS into the service plans, including:
- longitudinal strcngth of bulk carriers;
- bulkhead and double bottom strength of bulk carriers;
- hatch cover strength of bulk carriers;
- deck load of bulk carrier;
- longitudinal strength of oil tankers;
- fatigue strength of oil tankers;
- IACS unified requirements concerning tanker structural scantlings;
- effect of diminution allowance on structure strength;
- research on application of FSA;
- calculation methods and criteria for longitudinal strength and partial strength of large-size
- container ships;
direct calculation software developed by classification societies;

Based on the above, we believe that new type of ships (embodying safety, environmental protection
and cost-effectiveness) should be developed, which meet the following latest requirements:

- present international conventions;
- ship building rules in force;
- better cost-effectiveness as required by the using purpose (suitable main scantlings, energy-saving,
excellent loading, etc.) ;
- structural type and corresponding standardization;

Appropriate class notations are to be assigned to the above ship type.