DNV to lead €4m EU research into “extreme seas”

Oslo-based consultancy DNV will co-ordinate a research project examining the need for the shipping and offshore industries to update design and classification systems in the face of climate change impacts. In particular, the issue of higher waves needs to be considered.

Commenting on the project Dr Øyvind Endresen, programme director DNV Research & Innovation, said: “Today we use historical MetOcean data for predicting the maximum environmental loads experienced at sea and the possible failure of ships and structures due to fatigue. A consistent approach to handling changing trends in this data needs to be developed now so that we continue to make risk assessments based on the latest, most accurate data available.”

DNV published a white paper on the issue earlier this year. The €4 million EU “extreme seas” project will begin in September and will include eleven partners. Specialists in wave modelling, ship dynamics and ship design will work together to develop tools “to take shipping safely through future meteorological and oceanographical changes. Advanced physical, mathematical and statistical models will be developed and tested for passenger, container and tanker ships”.

• DNV news release