602. Use of Weight Control and Total Life Cycle Cost-Effectiveness Analysis for Merchant Ship Design

Paper

Abstract

Weight control and total life cycle cost-effectiveness should become basic considerations for future merchant ship design, construction and operation. These considerations, if properly applied, could improve overall performance, increase stability, and provide more potential dollar return for initial investments.
The evaluation of these elements should commence in the original concept phases and continue throughout the detail design and construction periods. To achieve the greatest benefits, new design concepts must be considered on a total expected life cycle basis taking into consideration tradeoffs between initial costs and in-service performance.
The above program is considered a mandatory prerequisite to improving the position of the United States Merchant Marine in providing systems and ships that will perform at competitive rates. Further, these techniques are basic tools that must be applied if the total system concept to develop prototype commercial maritime transportation systems such as proposed in reference (1) is to be successful.