AbstractSubstantial laboratory and field experience has indicated that, owing to the large number of wave stress cyles experienced by offshore steel structures, fatigue cracking should be the main consideration of structural reliability assessment.This paper presents the latest implementation of probabilistic fracture mechanics modelling for fatigue reliability analysis of the most common offshore structural component, the welded tubular joints. Coupled with the recent findings in inspection reliability, effective maintenance and integrity monitoring policies can be formulated.Examples of many practical situations have been analysed to illustrate the applications of the methodology.