A METHOD FOR ANALYSING CARGO PROTECTION AFFORDED BY SHIP STRUCTURES IN COLLISION AND ITS APPLICATION TO AN LNG CARRIER

This study, which is focused on collisions of a severity sufficient to cause spillage of liquid cargoes, attempts to extend the classical statistically based analysis of Minorsky to the problem of a liquefied natural gas carrier being rammed by a range of conventional ships, such as could occur in the confined waters of approach to harbour where community hazard exists. An extrapolation of the Minorsky method to the LNG carrier as a subject vessel is set out followed by a substantiation analysis. In the latter the total damage to the struck ship is divided into assessed principal sub-structural mechanisms, each of which realises a component of the total impact energy to be absorbed. The analytical treatment, though quite basic, appears to potentially validify the Minorsky statistical relationship and offers, therefore, a second stage calculation for the safety assessment and possible reduction of such incidents. Order from BSRA as No. 54,638.