Decision-Making on Strategies for Life Extension of Ships in The Brazilian Navy Using a Techno-Economic Analysis Approach

Abstract

This research presents a techno-economic methodology to support decision-making in extending the service life of ships in the Brazilian Navy. Addressing the dual challenge of operating an aging fleet within budgetary constraints, the proposed framework combines technical assessments with economic considerations. This integrated approach merges reliability principles and probability failure predictions to technically assess ship condition with a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate economic viability, ensuring decisions are both technically sound and economically justified. The potential of the proposed methodology is illustrated through a case study involving a ship within the Brazilian Navy fleet. Three life extension options (reuse, refurbishment and replacement) are analyzed based on available data. The findings recommend adopting the “reuse” strategy.