On the applicability of the SOLAS 2020 probabilistic damage stability rules to large inland passenger ships

In the absence of a common international regulatory framework, the stability of inland vessels is addressed by a number of different national and regional standards, which feature significant discrepancies. A possible approach to improvement and harmonization of stability rules for inland vessels could be based on application of the state-of-the-art rules for seagoing ships. Thus, this paper explores whether the application of the SOLAS 2020 probabilistic damage stability requirements could be a pragmatic solution for the harmonization of damage stability standards for large inland passenger ships. The analysis is conducted on two existing river cruisers, representative of the contemporary Western European fleet of large inland passenger ships. While one of the vessels (somewhat unexpectedly) met the SOLAS damage stability requirements with a considerable margin, the other could not comply with the rules in any realistic loading condition. Therefore, the applicability of the SOLAS 2020 probabilistic damage stability rules to ships whose features were not considered in formulating the underlying models of the rules is not granted, and the results should be treated with caution. Nevertheless, a probabilistic approach could be implemented into the damage stability standards for inland passenger ships, provided that their design and operational characteristics are built into the rules. • Damage stability rules for large inland cruisers are outdated and not harmonized. • Applicability of SOLAS damage stability rules to large inland cruisers is examined. • Inland ships were not considered when formulating the SOLAS damage stability rules. • To be applied to inland cruisers, the SOLAS damage stability rules must be adjusted.