On the Transient and Progressive Flooding Stages of Damaged RO-RO Vessels

Roll-On/Roll-Off vessels appear to be sensitive to rapid capsizing due to abrupt ingress of water caused by maritime accidents. As a result of the damage creation, the flooded ship can experience intermediate stages which might be more devastating than the final condition, as the sudden loading could significantly alter the ship stability characteristics. Far from a probabilistic analysis, the present paper aims at contributing to enhance knowledge of the flooding physics by treating some relevant important topics. It sheds light on the transient and progressive flooding stages, focuses on relevant factors and suggests combinations between factors that strongly affect the flooding before the steady state is reached. Furthermore, the authors comment on some points which remain hard to take into consideration, whatever the adopted methodology is, and propose, where found necessary, recommendations for a more reliable assessment of the flooding process. This survey shows that the intermediate flooding phase, which assessment could be adequate in calm water condition, depend upon many factors whose interdependency and effects still require further investigation. May a novel assessment methodology lead us to a better understanding and facilitate, therefore, the framing of new damage stability regulations.