Subdivision of RO/RO ships for enhanced safety in the damaged condition

The paper shows that RO/RO ships can be as safe in the damaged condition as other ship types without restricting their design features, i.e., with no transverse and/or horizontal subdivision within the cargo space liable to d amage, ii there are provisions for reserve buoyancy above the vehicle deck- the first deck above the deepest waterline. For this purpose, these ships s hould embody a double hull over the entire length of the cargo part of the ship, terminated at the second deck above the waterline and, in addition, d ouble decks at least the first deck above the waterline, preferably incline d upwards in the longitudinal direction. The double hull and double decks s hould be sufficiently densely subdivided by watertight bulkheads into water tight compartments, the former preferably cross-connected and of a breadth less than B/5. Cargo spaces below the double decks should be provided with efficient air escapes for removing air cushions from the undersides of the decks. A deck (or decks) if any, below the first deck above the waterline, along with this deck should be designed as opened to the passage of floodin g water, incorporating efficient down-flooding arrangements.