For　marine　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　structures　under　chloride-attack,　the　risks　of　member　surface　damage　can　be　evaluated　using　random　field　analysis　method,　considering　the　spatial　variations　of　durability　parameters.　However,　the　random　field　analysis　method　requires　high　computational　cost　and　advanced　skills,　and　is　not　feasible　for　engineering　practice.　Recognizing　this　difficulty,　a　simplified　method　is　proposed　in　this　paper　based　on　the　statistical　characteristics　of　time　to　corrosion　initiation　and　surface　damage.　The　new　method　establishes　the　mappings　between　the　probabilities　of　member　surface　damage　and　the　probability　(or　reliability　index)　of　corrosion　initiation　at　the　same　age.　Thus,　engineers　and　decision-makers　can　estimate　the　risk　of　surface　damage　through　reliability　index　of　corrosion　initiation,　with　the　latter　can　be　obtained　relatively　easily.　Probabilistic　analysis　for　the　durability　performance　of　a　RC　slab　serviced　in　marine　environment　is　performed　to　demonstrate　the　method.　The　accuracy　of　the　proposed　method　is　examined　through　the　comparison　with　the　random　field　simulation　method　and　experimental　results　in　literature.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd