"More than 4500 total ship losses were recorded worldwide in the period from 1994 to 2002: more than 30% of such incidents are caused by structural problems. Hull stress due to loading, or stresses imparted by wave and adverse weather conditions constitute primary source of risk to all types of ships with a large hull. Bulk carriers, large oil tankers, containers carriers, LNG carriers, and roro are vessel types particularly subject to such type of risks. The concept of MOSES Project is to apply highly knowledge-based methods to achieve control of tensile loads in the whole extension of the ship hull, using temperature compensated laser based optical sensors. The Project Objectives involve Ship Clustering, Sensors Development, FEM Structural Calculations and Data Conditioning, to grant the applicability to the widest types of ships. Sensor fusion concept is adopted to integrate strain gauges, accelerometers and inclinometers in a common optical-fibre based architecture, capable of providing instantaneous information concerning the dynamic status of the ship. The sensors prove to respect the stringent requirements of the working environment, in terms of ruggedness, reliability, response accuracy, insensibility to Electromagnetic interference and multiplex connection capability. The expected benefits are associated to immediate increase in safety of the ship where they are installed, during loading and in shipping conditions, reduction of casualties, extended service life of vessel, and targeted maintenance directed to overcome the damages detected by the monitoring system."