SafetyatSea can advise on the benefits, impact, opportunities and possibilities for complying with the new rules; based on the operator's requirements and/or design constrains, we can either create from scratch and/or optimise the watertight subdivision of the vessel.

We have developed a method for evaluating and optimising the watertight subdivision of a ship aimed at maximising the value of the subdivision index A whilst allowing for different combinations of tank and layout alternatives. See more.

New damage stability rules

A revised SOLAS chapter II-1 was adopted with entry into force set for 1 January 2009. The revision of SOLAS chapter II-1 is intended to harmonize the provisions on subdivision and damage stability for passenger and cargo ships. The revised provisions in parts A, B and B- 1 will be applicable to new ships built after the expected entry into force date of 1 January 2009.

Historical background

The amendments, which have been intensively developed over the past decade, are based on the "probabilistic" method of determining damage stability, which is itself based on the detailed study of data collected by IMO relating to collisions. Because it is based on statistical evidence concerning what actually happens when ships collide, the probabilistic concept is believed to be far more realistic than the previouslyused "deterministic" method.

The revision has taken into account the results of the HARDER (Harmonisation of Rules and Design Rational) research project: a project undertaken by a consortium of European industrial, research and academic institutions to study the probabilistic approach for assessing a ship's damage stability and to develop new criteria and indexes for subdivision based on probability of survival, taking into account effects from waves, heeling moments, cargo shift, transient effects and equalization arrangements.