Regulatory, design, operational and emergency response measures for improving the damage survivability of existing RoPax

This paper describes the background and provides the rationale and the framework to embrace the whole spectrum of measures (regulatory, design, operational and emergency response) for improving the damage survivability of existing RoRo Passenger vessels. The damage stability workshop elaborated here is the first step of a process initiated by INTERFERRY Europe to assess impact on/options for existing ships of increasing the required subdivision index R should IMO decide to apply new damage stability requirements retrospectively. This, in turn, would provide the motivation for instigating and establishing a framework and propose an approach for alternative compliance to account for the contribution made to damage survivability by operational and active damage control measures that could be undertaken in case of a flooding accident. This represents a step change both in the mind-set of naval architects and in safety legislation but the impact will be immense and mostly positive.