Ship Damage Control Systems

Damage Control System

• A procedure to diminish negative impacts on a ship
• It preserves watertight integrity
• It facilitates speedy repairs to damaged structures
• It maintains stability and maneuverability

Different Damage Control Systems

• Drainage and flooding system
• Fire main and sprinkling system
• Fuel and fresh water system

Drainage and Flooding

• Drainage removes large quantities of water from a compartment
• Drainage removes water from the hull during normal operation
• Flooding balances the ship

Three Principal Types of Drainage Systems

• Main drainage system: High capacity, using piping and pumps for rapid water removal
• Secondary drainage system: drains small compartments forward and aft
• Main condenser circulatory pumps: used for emergency engine room drainage

Fire Main System

• Piping, pumps, plugs, valves and controls supplying water to combat fires

Fuel Fresh Water System

• This system is comprised of tanks and filling lines
• It's important for damage control
• It enables partial control over the ship's list and trim by managing tank contents

Watertight Integrity

• The use of watertight integrity features is key to damage control progress
• Ships are divided into compartments

Watertight integrity purposes

• To control flooding
• To segregate activities of personnel
• To provide underwater protection utilizing tanks and voids

Combatant Ships and Armor

• Large combatant ships have armored belts protecting essential spaces
• Compartmentation compensates for reduced armor in some instances

Bulkhead

• A partition separating compartments and runs transversely or longitudinally

Watertight Bulkhead

• Heavier than regular bulkheads
• Impermeable to water except for specially designed watertight doors, piping, and wiring

Collision Bulkhead

• Designed to protect against flooding
• The bow collision bulkhead is the initial transverse bulkhead after the stern
• The last transverse bulkhead aft serves to protect the ship's after section

Doors and Hatches

• Enclosures for bulkhead openings constructed to be as structurally sound as the bulkhead

Watertight Doors

• Used in watertight bulkheads on the second deck
• Built to withstand 1.5 times more pressure than the bulkhead
• Secured with 6 to 12 dogs

Non-watertight Doors

• Employed on non-watertight bulkheads
• Equipped with minimal dogs in comparison to watertight doors

Hatches

• Horizontal doors
• Used for access through decks

Closure Fitting and Gaskets

• Gaskets made of rubber are installed on doors and hatches

Gasket Qualities

• Close against knife edges, ensuring a watertight, airtight, and gastight seal
• Must be free of dirt and grease.

Knife Edges

• Built out from decks and bulkheads
• Watertight doors and hatches close on knife edges.

Dogs and Pins

• Pins connect dogs to decks or bulkheads
• Dogs make the closure

Material Condition of Readiness

• Refers to the level of readiness to limit the extent of damage

Condition X-Ray

• Set when enemy action improbable
• Provides minimum protection
• X-Ray fittings close when not in use
• Maintained by division responsible for operation of ship

Condition Yoke

• Set when enemy action probable
• Provides more protection than condition X-ray
• Maintained when the ship is anchored in unprotected port during wartime or at sea during wartime
• Set when leaving/entering port during peacetime
• Set at any other time during outside regular working hours

X-Ray and Yoke conditions

• Fittings are closed
• Maintained by division responsible for cleaning and maintaining the space

Condition Zebra

• Set when enemy action is imminent
• Provides maximum watertight integrity
• Set and maintain before going to or entering port during wartime or when manning GQ station

Markings for Closures, Valves, and Fittings

• Circle X-Ray: Black X in a black circle, secured during X-Ray, Yoke and Zebra conditions
• Circle Yoke: Black Y in a black circle, secured during Yoke and Zebra conditions

Exceptions for Opening Circle X and Circle Yoke

• When going to a securing from GQ station
• When transferring of ammo

Special Fittings

• Marked with Circle X or Circle Y
• Gives access to a Battle station
• Gives access to transferring ammo
• Used when operating vital system

Circle Zebra

• Red Z within red circle
• Secured during condition Zebra
• May be opened during prolonged GQ, authorized by the commanding officer

Dog Zebra

• Red Z within a black D
• Secured during condition Z and darken ship
• Applies to weather deck access without darken ship switch or light traps

William

• Black W
• Special, kept open during all material conditions
• Vital valve: impairs mobility/fire protection if secured
• Applies to sea suction valve supplying main/auxiliary condenser in fire flushing valve

Circle William

• Black W within a black circle
• Open like William, but secured for NBC defense
• Applies to ventilation fittings

Firefighting Elements

• Flammable fuel
• Oxidizer such as oxygen
• Heat source
• These elements that produce a chain reaction are the fire tetrahedron

The fire Tetrahedron

• Fire cannot exist without all elements
• A flammable liquid will only burn in the right proportions of fuel and oxygen
• Once ignited, sustain their own heat through combustion

Fire Classification and Remedy

• Class A: Common combustibles (paper, wood, canvas). Use solid stream or water spray
• Class B: Flammable liquids/gases (kerosene, LPG, gasoline). Use water fog or foam extinguisher; last resort steam
• Class C: Energized electrical equipment. Use CO2 first; water fog as last resort (harmful/dangerous)
• Class D: Combustible metals (thermite, sodium, magnesium)

Class D Remedies

• Thermite fire: No known agent; flooding surroundings has no known effect
• Magnesium fire: CO2 ineffective; use water fog
• Sodium fire: Use dry chemical

Shipboard Firefighting Responsibility

• Everyone aboard must work aside from their primary duties
• All hands must seek the safety of the ship and crew, and do everything they can

Ship preservation

• Keep the ship afloat
• Keep the ship underway
• Keep the guns firing or ready to fire
• Protect the lives of the crew

Causes of Damage to Ships

• Fire
• Collision
• Enemy Action
• Grounding
• Weather

Fire definition.

• A chemical reaction between oxygen, fuel, and heat

Firefighting Equipment

• Portable: carried to scene, cylindrical bottle
• Installed: permanently fitted, include
  • Fire Main System
  • All-purpose fire nozzles and applicators
  • Foam equipment
  • Fog sprays
  • CO2 Rail system
  • Mechanical Foam Equipment

Special Protective Equipment

• Oxygen Breathing apparatus (OBA)
• Asbestos Suits
• Hose (Air line) Mask
• Life line

General Safety Precaution

• Prevents fire from starting

Firefighting Strategy

• Fire cannot be won against
• You can fight it, and you can hold down its damage with property destroyed, men injured and killed, time lost, productive work being interrupted and requiring additional efforts

Fire Prevention: Three General Rules

• Keep things clean and in their proper places
• Keep flammable materials away from fire-starting sources
• Keep correct firefighting equipment in the right places and in good condition

Fuel Oil Safety

• Fuel oil itself is non-explosive, hard to ignite, incapable of combustion
• Fuel oil vapor is heavier than air, accumulating in bulges/bottoms before being ignited

Static Electricity

• Generated when gasoline or like fluids flow thru hose or filter, or even splashed around a can
• Can cause a spark, leading to fire/explosion

Electrical Equipment Warnings

• Flammable cleaning fluids are never used on energized or de-energized electrical apparatus
• Alcohol is not used for cleaning, damaging insulating varnishes

Sources of Ignition

• Oil, grease, carbon dust ignite by electrical spark
• Machinery should be kept clean and free of such deposit