COLLATING EVIDENCE FOR A UNIVERSAL METHOD OF STABILITY ASSESSMENT OR GUIDANCE

Abstract

This paper reviews two related projects conducted for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and collates their findings with additional casualty data, in an attempt to promote a simple method of safety assessment. The method was developed by the author during research conducted for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. It was evaluated in a subsequent research project, where the recommendations were that it was not worthy of adoption or further development for regulatory purposes. Contrary to that evaluation, the method has received supportive comments from a number of naval architects, and this paper is offered as a means of presenting it more widely to the industry. Individuals may wish to use the method to assess their own designs, or to provide some simple safety guidance to operators.