We tested reliability assessment methods in a real-life
problem; the evaluation of the probability of failure of a deck panel of a cruiser. This panel, which has a knuckle, has failed due to buckling in one cruiser. Reliability assessment methods explained why the panel failed. Previous efforts, which employed deterministic analysis, failed to explain why the panel buckled. Reliability assessment methods also allowed us to identies and rank the most important uncertainties and the most effective design improvements.