Research Towards Goal Based Standards for Container Shipping

Analysis and verification of rule-related technical aspects of safe and efficient container shipping are an important part of R&D activities of classification societies. Casualty statistics show that container loss in heavy weather is an important issue for innovative container ship designs. The paper demonstrates two examples of research activities aiming at the reduction of cargo losses. One example is ship-specific operational guidance, assisting the ship master to avoid excessive motions and accelerations in heavy weather. The design accelerations underlying the operational guidance are part of classification rules, requiring understanding of the physics of dynamic loads on containers and lashing. The status of the ongoing research in this area is shown, in particular, the study of the effects of container flexibility and dynamic load amplification, not addressed explicitly in the present classification rules.