Stability represents a prime driver for naval architects whilst the form and consequences of intact and damage stability regulations remain at the forefront of interest at IMO.
Many ship stability problems remain 'unsolved' as manifested by unacceptable loss in human lives in accidents that continue to happen.
With rising societal regard for human life and the environment and with technology driving innovation in complex and safety-critical ship concepts, such as the cruise ships being built today, the subject will remain a central focus for as long as there is human activity at sea.
New focus
More specifically, the new focus should be on ships with fine hulls and high speed, hence susceptible to intact stability problems, excessive superstructure, hence susceptible to high wind loading.
Equally, close attention should be paid to ships with complex internal subdivision, hence susceptible to a flooding process that is inherently uncertain with multiple paths to same end state/different end state from similar initial conditions during periods of time that are similarly uncertain.
The main emphasis will be to understand the impact and implications and to lead/contribute to the development of suitable stability criteria and regulations, which are particularly relevant to cruise ships.
