On designing a ship for complex value robustness

摘要

Understanding which elements are important when perceiving the goodness of a ship is crucial. Traditional driving factors, such as cost and value for money, have been augmented by additional ones, such as environmental issues and increasing risks associated with a rapidly changing commercial and regulatory environment. In this paper, we propose ways for these new elements to be incorporated in the perception of a value robust ship. We use complex systems engineering theory to classify these elements in five aspects: structural, behavioural, contextual, temporal and perceptual. Emphasis is given to the last aspect, linking the perception of a value robust design with rational decision-making, and incorporating the uncertainty and inherent lack of perfect information and agreement in the process. An extended definition of mission concept is combined with epoch-era analysis as proposal to incorporate and quantify the perception of value robustness in the early stages of maritime design.