Statistical description and modelling of extreme ocean wave conditions

A proper description of the ocean wave climate is of great importance for coastal and ocean engineering design and operation. Marine structures must be designed and constructed so they can withstand wave loads imposed by the environment and the statistics of extreme waves must be taken into account in design and operation. This paper outlines some recent applications of extreme value analysis of ocean waves that are believed to be of relevance for coastal and ocean engineering. These include applications of stationary and non-stationary univariate analyses as well as multivariate analysis and spatial extreme value analysis. Finally, environmental contours are presented as a useful tool to characterise extreme ocean environments for structural design and risk assessment.