Recent years have seen increasing attention being paid towards the problems related to safety and security onboard ships. As a result, the International Maritime Organization has issued several new Regulations regarding ships’ systems that must be considered during the vessel design phases. In particular, one of the most important approaches introduced by this set of rules consists of the Safe Return to Port (SRtP) concept: basically, the ship itself represents its best lifeboat. Essential systems on-board passenger ships shall be designed in order to both guarantee their functionality and allow the return of the ship to the nearest port during specific emergency situations. Consequently, it is evident that designers should pay great attention to these systems since the early stages of the project. In this framework, proper IT design tools able to simulate systems functionality can represent a valuable aid to ensure compliance with the SRtP requirements. In this paper, the basic principles of SRtP Regulations are thoroughly presented. Furthermore, an IT tool, specifically implemented to address the suggested design approach for ship systems, is analyzed.
