The presentation will discuss the concerns of ship owners, operators and designers and how the upcoming international damage stability regulations may influence the economics of the dry cargo or passenger ship fleet constructed on or after 1st January 2020. The question as to how these new design and operational regulations, some potentially conflicting and diverse in nature, can be applied as a coherent whole for practical application within the design process will be addressed. As part of this, current issues surrounding regulations will be discussed along with a critique of recent research and the needs of the shipping industry. The impact of these will be investigated considering the practicing ship designer, regulators assessing and ensuring the inherent and operational safety of new designs and major conversions and also those involved in the education of naval architects and seafarers.
