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Offshore structural steel design and material requirements continue to present increasing challenges for the steelmaker and fabricators.Niobium-bearing steels currently play a key role in meeting these objectives.New Nb-technological advancements in the offshore sector are presented and will contribute to meeting future design challenges.Quenched and tempered Nb-bearing plate steels with increased yield strength levels are currently used in offshore platform fabrication.Mechanical properties as well as fracture mechanics characteristics and extensive welding procedure qualifications are required.These high strength plate steels offer the opportunity to manufacture complex heavy-lift and fatigue-critical components for larger offshore structures without increasing the weight of the platforms.Deep-water structural steel platforms which are exposed to severe environmental loads offer further opportunities for Nb-bearing steels.Such critical components in the offshore structures require the steelmaker to adopt excellent steelmaking,slab casting and hot rolling performance.