Framework for risk-based salvage operation of damaged oil tanker after collision in the Adriatic Sea

The study describes the framework for risk calculation of post-accidental salvage operation of damaged double-hull tanker in the Adriatic Sea. The principal failure mode driving the presented risk assessment is the ship hull girder collapse, representing one of the most unfavorable outcomes of a ship accident. Risk of such an event depends on the hull girder probability of failure and the cost of its consequences. Risk assessment is performed by employing shortterm ship structural reliability analysis for the failure probability calculation and available models for estimating cost of an oil spill, as the most important consequence of ship hull girder collapse. The risk of the hull girder failure of damaged tanker, expressed in monetary units is compared with the initial cost of the oil spill, which may occur after a collision accident in which the inner hull is damaged. It was found that the risk of hull girder collapse of damaged ship during towing in the Adriatic Sea is negligible, despite huge economic loss that could occur. That is the consequence of the mild sea environment where hull girder failure probability of damaged ship is rather low.