NOTE:
This document reflects a current interpretation of how a Damage Control Booklet for a
container vessel acc. SOLAS 2009 could be prepared according to a.m. regulations.
In case new regulations, new interpretations or new guidelines on the matter would be
issued, the therein described new requirements would apply.

Jan Schreiber

Antje Fleischhauer

[Treatment Signature]

[Release Signature]

Damage Control Booklet

Model Booklet for Container Vessels (acc. SOLAS 2009)

Version 2.0
dated 2010-08-26
Prepared according to:

SOLAS, Part B-4, Reg. 19

MSC/Circ. 919

MSC/Circ.

1245

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Table of contents:

1 Ship particulars....................................................................................................................4

1.1

Ship data..........................................................................................................................................4

1.2

Main dimensions..............................................................................................................................4

2 General information .............................................................................................................4

2.1

Purpose of the Damage Control Booklet..........................................................................................4

2.2

Responsible persons .......................................................................................................................4

2.3

Immediate action after casualty .......................................................................................................4

2.4

Training of the crew .........................................................................................................................5

3 Ship’s arrangement..............................................................................................................6

3.1

Watertight subdivision......................................................................................................................6

3.2

Watertight doors...............................................................................................................................6

3.2.1

Operational instructions ..........................................................................................................6

3.2.2

Supervision from the control station........................................................................................6

3.3

Openings .........................................................................................................................................6

3.3.1

List of watertight doors ............................................................................................................6

3.3.2

List of air pipes & vents (weathertight) ....................................................................................6

3.3.3

List of hatches (weathertight) ..................................................................................................7

3.3.4

List of unprotected openings ...................................................................................................7

3.4

Valve and Piping arrangement.........................................................................................................7

3.4.1

Pumping arrangement.............................................................................................................7

3.5

Cross flooding and down flooding arrangement...............................................................................7

4 Damage control....................................................................................................................8

4.1

Workflow of damage scenario..........................................................................................................8

4.2

Actions to be taken in case of damage ............................................................................................9

4.2.1

Closing of watertight doors and hatches .................................................................................9

4.2.2

Closing of weathertight openings ............................................................................................9

4.2.3

Closing of valves.....................................................................................................................9

4.2.4

Check of the extent of damage ...............................................................................................9

4.2.5

Sounding of flooded compartments.........................................................................................9

4.2.6

Draft readings..........................................................................................................................9

4.2.7

Calculation of inflooded water .................................................................................................9

4.2.8

Use of pumps........................................................................................................................10

4.2.9

Use of Loading Computer .....................................................................................................10

4.2.10

Liquid transfer operations .................................................................................................10

4.2.11

Determination of the ground condition (in case of grounding only)...................................10

4.2.12

Information to owner, coast guard and consultancy services ...........................................10

5 Use of Stability Computer ................................................................................................. 11

6 Summary of damage stability calculation........................................................................ 11

6.1

Applicable regulation......................................................................................................................11

6.2

Damage stability criteria.................................................................................................................11

6.3

Special remarks .............................................................................................................................11

7 Sample damage cases....................................................................................................... 12

7.1

Summary of sample damage cases...............................................................................................12

7.2

Details of sample damage cases ...................................................................................................14

8 Annex .................................................................................................................................. 16

8.1

Damage Control Plan.....................................................................................................................16

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8.2

General Arrangement Plan ............................................................................................................16

8.3

Diagram of BW-system ..................................................................................................................16

8.4

Diagram of bilge/scupper system...................................................................................................16

8.5

Diagram of heeling system ............................................................................................................16

8.6

Diagram of air- and sounding pipes ...............................................................................................16

8.7

Diagrams of fuel oil filling, transfer and overflow system ...............................................................16

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1 Ship particulars

1.1

Ship data

Ship's name

MV “DAMAGE CONTROL”

IMO no.

1234567

Call sign

ABCD

Flag Germany
Port of registry

Hamburg

1.2

Main dimensions

Length overall

L

oa

280.00 m

Length b. perpendiculars

L

pp

270.00 m

Breadth (moulded)

B

32.20 m

Depth to main deck (moulded)

D

20.00 m

Scantl. draft (mld.)

d

max

12.50 m

2 General information

2.1

Purpose of the Damage Control Booklet

The Booklet serves the purpose to give the master and the crew guidance in the case of damage. By
the instructions given herein the crew shall be capable of assessing the situation and determining the
necessary actions to be taken in order to minimize consequences of the damage with respect to safety
of persons on board and protection of the marine environment.
Generally, the master should exercise prudence and good seamanship when taking the necessary
actions.

2.2

Responsible persons

The responsibilities are as follows (to be identified by rank, to be filled in by the owner or master of
the vessel):

Overall responsibility:

Initiation of necessary actions:

Determination of extent of damage:

Pumping operations:

Evaluation of damage scenario with the loading computer:

Information to external parties

2.3

Immediate action after casualty

It is to be assessed by the master whether the damage case will lead to immediate capsizing or sinking
of the ship. For this assessment the present weather and sea conditions shall be considered. In case
the situation is judged as very critical and the ship is in immediate danger of capsizing or sinking the
ship has to be abandoned at once.
Otherwise personnel not working for the ship’s safety shall be ordered to stay at the rescue boat. All
persons are ordered to wear life vests and / or survival suits if available.

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2.4

Training of the crew

A high training level of the crew ensures quick and appropriate action in case of damage.
Every crew member shall be familiar with the arrangement of the vessel and the necessary actions in
case of damage such as location of watertight doors and hatches as well as weathertight opening
points, piping and pumping arrangement furthermore the calculation with the loading computer and
others.
Besides the knowledge about the vessel’s arrangement, clear communication procedures shall be
established to ensure an impeccable workflow.

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3 Ship’s arrangement

3.1

Watertight subdivision

The watertight subdivision is shown in detail on the drawings in the annex.

3.2

Watertight doors

In order to ensure the watertight integrity of the vessel several watertight doors and hatches are
arranged.

3.2.1

Operational instructions

Watertight hinged doors and hatches are to be kept closed while at sea. The use of these doors/hatches
shall be authorised by the officer of the watch. After use these doors/hatches are to be closed
immediately. For the information of the crew a respective notice has been affixed on each such
door/hatch.

3.2.2

Supervision from the control station

The closing status of each watertight door/hatch is shown on the status panel on the bridge.

3.3

Openings

Openings are listed according to their level of tightness.
Watertight openings:

Such openings can withstand a permanent high water pressure with

corresponding type approval of its closing appliances.
Weathertight openings: Such openings are able to withstand spray water only (“splash proof”).
Unprotected openings:

No tightness standard is verified.

3.3.1

List of watertight doors

Name Description Connect

Frame x [m] y [m]

height [m]

from Tween Deck

D01

Wat. door Pass.Way. FWD --- Pass.Way. MID 230 184.00 15.00 0.20

D02

Wat. door Pass.Way. MID --- Pass.Way. AFT

137 109.60 15.00 0.20

D03

Wat. door Pass.Way. AFT --- Eng. room

63

50.40 15.00

0.20

… …

To be completed

… … …

…

3.3.2

List of air pipes & vents (weathertight)

Name Description Connect

Frame x [m] y [m]

height [m]

from Main Deck

O01 Ventilation Bosun

Store

325 260.00 4.00 3.80

O02 Airpipe Fore

Peak

325

260.00 3.00 3.35

O03

Airpipe

BW No. 1 Deep Tank

321 256.80 7.50 3.35

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O04

Airpipe

BW No. 1 Deep Tank

305 244.00 9.50 3.35

O05

Airpipe

BW No. 2 DB

303 242.40 9.50 0.90

O06

Airpipe

BW No. 2 DB

268 214.40 14.30 0.90

… …

To be completed

… … …

…

3.3.3

List of hatches (weathertight)

Name Description Connect

Frame x [m] y [m]

height [m]

from Main Deck

H01 Hatch Eng.

room

30 24.00

3.00 0.90

H02 Hatch Fan

room

39 31.20

5.00 2.00

… …

To be completed

… … …

…

3.3.4

List of unprotected openings

Name Description Connect

Frame x [m] y [m]

height [m]

from Main Deck

U01 Fan Eng.

room

35

56.00

14.00 25.00

U02 Door B-Deck

39

31.20

14.00 27.00

… …

To be completed

… … …

…

3.4

Valve and Piping arrangement

Reference is made to the piping diagrams in the annex.

3.4.1

Pumping arrangement

The following pumps are available. Reference is made also to the piping diagrams in the annex.

Name Capacity

Quantity Location Control

Position

Ballast pump

600 m³/h

2

Eng. room

Engine control room

Heeling pump

800 m³/h

1

Cargo hold 5

Ballast operating room

3.5

Cross flooding and down flooding arrangement

For this vessel no cross flooding pipes or down flooding devices are arranged.
The anti heeling system, however, could be used to adjust the floating position.
CAUTION: The risks related to liquid transfer operation (free surface moments, stability, longitudinal
strength) are to be observed, see also paragraph “Liquid transfer operations“ below.

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4 Damage control

4.1

Workflow of damage scenario

General alarm: Information to all crew members (passengers)

Occurrence of damage

Closing of watertight doors and hatches as well as

weathertight closing appliances and valves in piping

Check of the extent of damage

and sounding of the compartments

Calculation of the flooding rate

Pump capacity > Flooding rate

No

Yes

Continue pumping

Calculation of the final floating position

Finished flooding

Calculation for filling/discharging of ballast water to

improve the floating position (stability & strength check)

Liquid transfer operation acc. to calculation results

Information of the present situation to

local coast guard, owner, ERS

No

Further actions in order to stabilise the vessel

based on calculation or guidance from ERS

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4.2

Actions to be taken in case of damage

The following actions are to be taken immediately after damage in order to ensure the watertight
integrity and to assess the severity of damage.

4.2.1

Closing of watertight doors and hatches

All watertight doors and hatches are to be closed immediately!
In general the status of watertight doors and hatches is closed (refer to list of watertight openings given
above). This status can be checked on the status panel on the bridge. Additionally a visual check by a

designated person shall be performed ensuring the tightness of these doors/hatches. Prior to sending a

crew member to such an inspection route, it is to be justified that the personal risk for this person is
within acceptable limits.
In case it is deemed absolutely necessary to open a watertight door/hatch again in the damaged

condition in order to proceed with further actions, it should be carefully judged whether this door is
crucial to prevent progressive flooding. After use the door/hatch is to be closed immediately.

4.2.2

Closing of weathertight openings

All weathertight doors and hatches are to be closed immediately. Furthermore the closing appliances for

ventilation openings are to be secured.

4.2.3

Closing of valves

All vales in the piping system are to be closed immediately as far as the connected pipes are not used
for pumping operations.

4.2.4

Check of the extent of damage

If possible, a visual check of the extent of damage and the included compartments shall be carried out.

4.2.5

Sounding of flooded compartments

After having found out which compartments are damaged, the amount of inflooded water shall be

determined by sounding measurements. In case a compartment is connected to the remote sounding
system the amount of inflooded water can be determined directly.

4.2.6

Draft readings

Draft measurements at the draft marks shall be performed. Additionally the heeling angle shall be noted.

4.2.7

Calculation of inflooded water

By a periodical measurement of the sounding for damaged compartments and comparison with the draft

readings a calculation of the inflooding water per time (flooding rate) can be made.

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4.2.8

Use of pumps

Two (2) pumps in the water ballast system and bilge system are available for pumping out water from
compartments which have been damaged.
Two scenarios may arise:

ƒ

The amount of inflooding water exceeds the capacity of the available pumps. In this case the
compartment must be isolated by closing all watertight accesses (including vales in the piping

system). The use of pumps is only partly useful,

ƒ

The pump capacity exceeds the rate of inflooded water therefore the pumping shall be continued

permanently.

The pumps shall be held in a permanent stand-by modus and ready for service at any time.

4.2.9

Use of Loading Computer

For determining possible scenarios of liquid transfer operations, the loading computer might be used
(refer to Chap. 5). Restrictions of the ability of the Loading Computer are to be considered.

4.2.10 Liquid transfer operations
Before any filling or discharging of water ballast is carried out a thorough check and pre-calculation of

the resulting floating position is to be carried out and the limit values for stability and longitudinal
strength are to be checked.
The crew must be aware that filling or discharging of water ballast tanks can have negative influences

on the stability due to the effect of free surfaces for partially filled tanks!
For this reason it is strongly recommended before liquid transfer operations will take place that the

possible negative effects of such operations are assessed by pre-calculation (e.g. by land based

consultancies).
In order to minimise the heel and trim of the vessel it may be advisable that water should be pumped in

the tanks opposite to the damage location. If possible, the filling of slack tanks should be preferred to
improve the stability behaviour of the vessel.

4.2.11 Determination of the ground condition (in case of grounding only)
In case the vessel is run aground a check of the ground condition and the extent of damage can be

performed by a diver. This check shall only be performed with the necessary safety measures when the

ship is in a stable position and no movement on the ground is anticipated.

4.2.12 Information to owner, coast guard and consultancy services
The local coast guard and the owner of the vessel shall be informed about the present situation. A

possible outflow of oil should be stated immediately.
In general all information about damage extent, floating position and loading condition prior to damage
shall be forwarded to consultancy services in order to get support in determining the severity of the

damage and to determine the necessary actions to be taken.

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5 Use of Stability Computer

The use of a Loading Computer for an estimation of the stability after damage is very restricted as
common loading instruments are not able to calculate damage stability in a correct way. - Any

calculation which has been carried out with a normal Loading Computer intended for intact calculation
should be regarded as a very rough estimation only. Such results should be treated with utmost caution!
In case the loading instrument is capable of calculating damage stability, the exact loading condition

prior to the accident and the actual extent of damage shall be considered.

6 Summary of damage stability calculation

6.1

Applicable regulation

The vessel complies with the requirements as laid down in SOLAS II-1. This damage stability regulation

is based on a probabilistic concept which means that the probabilities of possible damages are
considered acc. to standardised formulas. The survivability of the vessel assumed damaged with these

possible damages is assessed. The combination of probability and resulting survivability leads to a

certain contribution to a attained index A which has to be greater than the required index R (A>R).
This kind of damage stability analysis is based on several assumptions (e.g. permeability of rooms,

considered initial drafts and GMs). The calculated results according to the regulations can differ
significantly from results of real damages of an actual loading condition.

6.2

Damage stability criteria

If all of the following criteria are met, a damage case gives full contribution to the attained index A:

Final heeling angel

≤ 25

deg.

Maximum value of the righting lever curve ≥ 0.12

m

Range of the righting lever curve

≥ 16

deg.

No immersion of opening points

If the floating position is more critical, a smaller contribution is considered.

6.3

Special remarks

Acc. to SOLAS II-1 no additional heeling moments (e.g. wind), no wave action and no longitudinal

strength limitations were considered in the damage stability calculation.

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7 Sample damage cases

In the following, the floating position and the GZ-curve of the vessel as well as the critical openings are
shown for selected damage cases.
CAUTION: As below listed damage results are taken from the approved damage stability
calculation, they are based on several assumptions (e.g. permeability of rooms, considered
initial drafts and GMs). The calculated results can differ significantly from results of real
damages of an actual loading condition.

7.1

Summary of sample damage cases

Deepest subdivision draft:

d

S

= 12.50m GM = 0.40 m permeability of cargo hold = 0.70

Damage Description draft

aft

[m]

draft

fwd

[m]

heel [deg]

D01

Cargo hold 1

To be completed

To be completed

To be completed

D02

Cargo hold 2

D03

Cargo hold 3

D04

Cargo hold 4

D05

Cargo hold 5

D06

Cargo hold 6

D07 Eng.

room

Partial subdivision draft:

d

P

= 9.50 m

GM = 0.60 m permeability of cargo hold = 0.80

Damage Description draft

aft

[m]

draft

fwd

[m]

heel [deg]

D01

Cargo hold 1

To be completed

To be completed

To be completed

D02

Cargo hold 2

D03

Cargo hold 3

D04

Cargo hold 4

D05

Cargo hold 5

D06

Cargo hold 6

D07 Eng.

room

Lightest service draft:

d

L

= 5.00m

GM = 3.60 m permeability of cargo hold = 0.95

Model booklet treatment note:
The following sample cases should be shown:

• each of the three drafts acc. SOLAS
• one damage per cargo hold compartment and one damage for engine room
• full transverse and vertical penetration (e.g. damage 4.0.0*, not damage 4.1.0*), even if s=0
• if s=0 for full transverse and vertical penetration (e.g. 4.0.0*), a damage with reduced

transverse and / or vertical penetration could be shown additionally (e.g. 4.1.0*)

* Nomenclature of certain software, other nomenclature may differ

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Damage Description draft

aft

[m]

draft

fwd

[m]

heel [deg]

D01

Cargo hold 1

To be completed

To be completed

To be completed

D02

Cargo hold 2

D03

Cargo hold 3

D04

Cargo hold 4

D05

Cargo hold 5

D06

Cargo hold 6

D07 Eng.

room

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7.2

Details of sample damage cases

Damage of cargo hold 1
Deepest subdivision draft (d

S

= 12.50m, GM = 0.40 m)

Partial subdivision draft (d

P

= 9.50 m, GM = 0.60 m)

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Lightest subdivision draft (d

L

= 5.00 m, GM = 3.60 m)

To be completed

.
.
Damage of Cargo Hold No. 3
Full draft (d

max

= 12.50 m, GM = 0.40 m)

To be completed

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8 Annex

8.1

Damage Control Plan

8.2

General Arrangement Plan

8.3

Diagram of BW-system

8.4

Diagram of bilge/scupper system

8.5

Diagram of heeling system

8.6

Diagram of air- and sounding pipes

8.7

Diagrams of fuel oil filling, transfer and overflow system

Model booklet treatment note:
The customer should adjust the list of drawings included to the arrangement of the particular vessel.
In certain cases, further additional drawings may be required to show the damage control related

arrangement of the vessel.