Economic aspects of component importance analysis for complex marine systems

The paper presents the application of cost-based, component-importance measures for complex technical systems. A stern tube sealing system installed on a sea vessel was used as an example of a complex technical system. Selected statistics of a ship’s operation losses were calculated. Selected, known-importance measures were presented and the authors’ own approach to cost-based, component-importance analysis was shown. The following measures were discussed: the operation-interruption cost index, the maintenance potential, the simulation-based maintenance index, and maintenance and operational costs. A description of factors influencing the importance of the technical system components was provided.