The paper describes a formalisation of a Design for Safety methodology in an integrated envi-ronment, outlines early developments of a software tool, and presents the results of an appli-cation of the methodology to a case study. The approach adopted attempts link safety per-formance prediction through the utilisation of appropriate technical tools, safety assessment deriving from risk-based methodologies and disparate design activities and issues. Black-board systems have been utilised as the platform in the development of the integrated design environment, allowing safety assessment to become an integral part of the design process. Finally, the case study addresses the application of the developed methodology to three dif-ferent arrangements of a conventional passenger Ro-Ro vessel, with the aim to demonstrate the validity of the process and methodology adopted. The findings are presented and dis-cussed, and recommendations given for the way forward.