For the global and structural fatigue strength analysis of a semi-submersible platform, wave loads under design conditions are calculated by use of the three-dimensional boundary element method. Methods for calculating the forward-speed free-surface Green function are discussed and a computer program with this Green function is developed. According to the special rules, the wave loads under several typical design conditions of the platform are calculated. The maximum vertical bending moment, torsion moment and horizontal split force are determined from a series of contour maps of wave loads for the wave period of 5 to 18 seconds at a certain interval and the wave phase of 0°to 360°at a certain interval. The wave height is determined by the function of wave period with a given exceedance probability. The maximum wave loads under the combination of wave parameters are used as the input of hydrodynamic pressure in the three-dimensional finite element analysis process. The transfer functions of wave loads For the global and structural fatigue strength of a semi-submersible platform, wave loads under design conditions are calculated by use of the three-dimensional boundary element method. Methods for calculating the forward-speed free-surface Green function are discussed and a computer program with this Green function is developed. According to the special rules, the wave loads under several typical design conditions of the platform are calculated. The maximum vertical bending moment, torsion moment and horizontal split force are determined from a series of contour maps of wave loads for the wave period of 5 to 18 seconds at a certain interval and the wave phase of 0 ° to 360 ° at a certain interval. The wave height is determined by the function of wave period with a given exceedance probability. The maximum wave loads under the combination of wave parameters are used as the input of hydrodynamic pressure in the three-dimensional finite element analysis process. The transfer funct ions of wave loads