1 A Decision Support System for Mission-Based Ship Routing Considering Multiple Performance Criteria You Dong 1 , Dan M. Frangopol 2 *, and Samantha Sabatino 3 ABSTRACT It is crucial to evaluate the structural risk associated with marine vessels subjected to inclement weather and sea conditions when developing a decision support system for ship routing. The generalized decision making framework developed in this paper performs a variety of tasks, including, but not limited to quantifying the flexural and fatigue performance of ship structures and employing multi-attribute utility theory to evaluate ship mission performance. A structural reliability approach is utilized to compute the probability of failure considering the uncertainty in structural capacity and load effects; specifically, effects of flexural and fatigue damage are investigated. The expected repair cost, cumulative fatigue damage, total travel time, and carbon dioxide emissions associated with ship routing are considered as consequences within the risk assessment procedure adopted in this paper. Additionally, the decision maker’s risk attitude is integrated into the presented approach by employing utility theory. The presented methodology can assist decision makers in making informed decisions concerning ship routing. In order to illustrate its capabilities the approach is applied to the Joint High-speed Sealift Ship (JHSS). Key words: Ship reliability; Risk assessment; Spectral fatigue analysis; Operational conditions; Multi- attribute utility theory; Decision making. 1. Introduction When a ship is deployed on a given mission, the route the vessel traverses is typically a predetermined path with known potential sea conditions (e.g., sea states). Thus, a decision maker must determine, before the mission, which route a ship may take. It is crucial to evaluate the structural risk associated with marine vessels subjected to inclement weather and sea conditions when developing a decision management system for ship routing. Ship mission routing can be established considering the strength of the hull, accounting for both flexural and fatigue damage. Additionally, a multi-attribute decision making process may be incorporated to form a robust framework for ship routing that accounts for a wide range of consequences (e.g., total travel time and repair loss). The uncertainties associated with the risk evaluation process must also be included within a generalized ship routing decision making framework. During a mission, a ship must always satisfy safety and serviceability requirements. In some cases, marine vessels are forced to follow certain routes while simultaneously handling time and distance constraints; this combination of dire conditions puts ships in danger of accruing damage that may negatively impact society and the surrounding environment. Ultimately, ship mission performance assessment is of vital importance for ship managers since it provides them guidance for the real-time decision making. 1 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS Center), Lehigh University, 117 ATLSS Dr., Bethlehem, PA 18015-4729, USA, yod210@lehigh.edu 2 Professor and the Fazlur R. Khan Endowed Chair of Structural Engineering and Architecture, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS Center), Lehigh University, 117 ATLSS Dr., Bethlehem, PA 18015-4729, USA, dan.frangopol@lehigh.edu, *Corresponding Author. 3 Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS Center), Lehigh University, 117 ATLSS Dr., Bethlehem, PA 18015-4729, USA, sas711@lehigh.edu © 2016. This manuscript version is made available under the Elsevier user license http://www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/