An overview of the present methods for evaluation of the environmental loads on ships and offshore structures

The aim of this paper is to present the state of the art methods for determining environmental loads on ships and offshore structures. Wave-induced loads on ships are dealt within two different approaches, with first that focuses on 2D and 3D methods, examining current practice in linear and progress in nonlinear methods together with applications of so called CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) methods. In addition full-scale and flexible model test measurements are reviewed.The latter focuses on impact related loads, namely slamming, sloshing and green water. With reference to offshore structures the focus is set to multi-body interactions and floating mooring system interactions, with particular reference to instabilities and the clashing event for the latter. Furthermore, current status on vortex induced vibrations is reviewed. Amongst these analysis of ice loads and a separate section devoted to wind loads is also mentioned.