Passenger Ship Subdivision & Stability

Requirements in this regard are given in SOLAS Chapter II-1. The regulations deal with limiting the flooding of a vessel and the effect of flooding consequent to damage so that the vessel remains in an acceptable condition of stability. For limiting the adverse effects of flooding, the regulations address several points in details such as: 1) Length of compartments in passenger ships. 2) Stability of passenger ships in damaged condition. 3) Construction & testing of watertight bulkheads, watertight decks & trunks. 4) Construction & testing of watertight doors & side scuttles. 5) Openings in watertight bulkheads and in the shell plating below the margin line. 6) Watertight integrity above the margin line. 7) Stability information and damage control plans etc. To maintain the vessels remaining w/t integrity and condition of stability after flooding and for safety of passengers, it is necessary that no part of the bulkhead deck be submerged after flooding. The Bulkhead Deck is the uppermost continuous deck to which the transverse w/t bulkheads are carried. If the Bulkhead deck submerges, openings on top of the bulkhead deck which are not w/t, may go under water, leading to progressive flooding. Also the deck may not be able to withstand the weight of water on it. To achieve this aim & for margin of safety, a Margin line is drawn at least 76mm below the bulkhead deck. In any condition of flooding, this margin line is not to be submerged.

Floodable Length : At any given point along the length of the ship, it is the maximum portion of the length of the ship having its centre at the point in question, which can be flooded, without the ship being submerged above the margin line. It is determined by taking into account the form, draught and other characteristics of the ship in question and also the permeability of the space. Where bulkhead deck is not continuous, the floodable length is determined to an assumed continuous margin line at the lowest level. However where this assumed margin line is very much below the bulkhead deck, a relaxation is permitted in the water tightness of those compartments which are above the margin line & immediately under the higher deck. Where the bulkhead deck is stepped, as shown in figure below , either level may be used as that from which the margin line is measured. If the lower level A is used the line of the bulkhead, and margin line, is projected to the shell. However, if the higher level B is adopted, the shaded portion shown must also be considered flooded for the purpose of satisfying subdivision (floodable length).

Note 2: --------For compartments A, B, C and G the margin line derived from Deck 2 may be used. For the remaining compartments the margin line derived from Deck 1 is to be used. The combined lengths C and D, F and G, and G and H are each not to exceed the permissible length determined by reference to the Deck 1 margin line. The floodable length for a ship with an amidships engine room would in general take the shape of the curve as given below, if plotted against the length.

The floodable length at the ends of the vessel would be small as flooding at these points would cause a large change in trim, which would cause the vessels margin line to submerge more easily than if the flooding was at midship portion of the vessel. The abrubt change in the floodable length at the extremities of the engine room is because of different permeabilities used for calculation of the floodable length of passenger spaces and machinery spaces. Permeability :

The uniform average permeability of the machinery space is given by the formula :

Where a = Volume of passenger spaces situated below the margin line within the limits of the machinery space. c = Volume of spaces used for cargo, bunkers or stores situated below the margin line within the limits of the machinery space. v = The whole volume of the machinery space below the margin line. The uniform average permeability of spaces forward or aft of the machinery spaces is given by the formula:

Where a = Volume of passenger spaces situated below the margin line forward or aft of the machinery space. v = The whole volume of the ship below the margin line forward or aft of the machinery space. If the permeability as shown by a detailed calculation, is shown to be less than that obtained by above formulae, then this lesser value of permeability may be used. Permissible Length : The maximum permissible length of a compartment at any point along the length of the ship is obtained from the floodable length by multiplying it by a factor called the Factor of Subdivision. Thus, Permissible length = Floodable length x Factor of subdivision Factor of Subdivision The factor of subdivision is always <= 1. In order that ships be subdivided as efficiently as possible, the factor of subdivision varies according to: The length of the ship The nature of its service

It is given by the formula : A = 58.2/L-60 + 0.18 (For cargo ships of length >=131m) B = 30.3/L-42 + 0.18 (For passenger ships of length >=79m) Thus for cargo ships upto 131m in length, the factor of subdivision will be 1 and will reduce as the length increases while for passenger ships upto 79m in length, the factor of subdivision will be 1 and will reduce as the length increases. Criterion of Service Numeral: This numeral is assigned to determine whether a vessel is primarily a cargo carrier or a passenger vessel.

where: L = Length of the ship M= Volume of machinery spaces including any permanent bunker spaces P = Volume of passenger spaces below the margin line V = Whole volume of ship below the margin line P1= KN where K=0.056L and N=Number of passengers for which the ship is certified Cargo ships will have a low Cs value(<=23) while passenger ships will have a high Cs value(>=123). The subdivision of vessels >=131m in length and having a Cs value <=23 shall be governed by factor A. The subdivision of vessels having a Cs value >=123 shall be governed by factor B. The subdivision of vessels having a Cs value between 23 & 123 shall be governed by factor F where F= A (A-B)(Cs-23) 100 Stability of Ships in Damaged Condition Sufficient intact stability shall be provided in all conditions to enable the ship withstand flooding of any compartment within the floodable length.

Where a main bulkhead is stepped or where the factor of subdivision is between 0.33 & 0.50, the intact stability should be sufficient to withstand flooding of any two adjacent main compartments. Where the factor of subdivision is <= 0.33 , the intact stability should be sufficient to withstand flooding of any three adjacent main compartments. While making these calculations, the proportions and design characteristics of the ship and the arrangement and configuration of the damaged compartments are to be assumed for the worst anticipated service conditions. Where decks, inner skins or longitudinal bulkheads are fitted to restrict flooding, due consideration to these shall be given in the calculations.