MARINE BASED DAMAGE CONTROL PLAN

On Board Damage Control

This Classification News is intended to clarify the requirements for damage control plans and damage control booklets on board ships. To date, the SOLAS Convention has required damage control plans and booklets to be carried on board: • passenger ships, regardless of size, since at least 1974 • dry cargo ships over 100 metres in length, constructed on or after February 1, 1992 • dry cargo ships over 80 metres in length, constructed on or after July 1, 1998, and • all ships, regardless of length, constructed on or after January 1, 2009. The text of the current requirement (applicable to all ships constructed on or after January 1, 2009) can be found in SOLAS Chapter II-1, Part B-4, Regulation 19. Further guidance on what the damage control plan and damage control booklet should contain is provided in circular MSC.1/Circ.1245. The previous circular on the subject, MSC/Circ.919, gave similar information for ships which had to provide these documents under the earlier requirements.

General

1. Scope of Damage Control
   1. Damage control comprises the entire system of maintaining watertight integrity, controlling stability, repairing damage, providing for defense against gas, and caring for injured personnel. It deals with material, personnel, operations, methods and organization.
2. Importance of Preparation
   1. The control of damage is dependent, to a great extent, upon the measures taken prior to action to reduce and localize the effects of collision, grounding, or the casualties of battle. The prevention of the spread of water, fire and gas within the ship by closing all openings and the elimination of inflammable material is greatly aided by the care with which the damage control preparation for war and battle is made as covered by the Strip Ship Bill and the Clear Ship for Action Bill in later sections of this chapter.
3. Responsibility for Organization
   1. All heads of departments and division officers are responsible for the phases of damage control coming within the limits of their departments and divisions. The Damage Control Officer, however, is the coordinator of the various phases of damage control and he shall be responsible under the supervision of the Executive Officer for satisfactory organization and a master bill for carrying out efficiently all phases of damage control. Heads of departments and division officers shall cooperate to the fullest extent with the Damage Control Officer in all matters relating to damage control.
4. Compartmentation Integrity and Stability Control
   1. Watertight, airtight and fumetight integrity are important functions of damage control. Watertight integrity insures the buoyancy and stability of the ship, and the maintenance of minimum list and proper trim. Airtight and fumetight integrity contribute to the necessary protection against gas attack.
   2. In connection with watertight integrity the Damage Control Officer coordinates the various phases of stability control. In battle he is in direct charge of the control of stability. He shall assemble all pertinent data in Damage Control Central. He shall maintain the Construction Department personnel in an efficient state of training relative to the handling of water in the ship to meet the needs of stability control.