Application of Buoyancy Support System to Secure Residual Buoyancy of Damaged Ships

Abstract

SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea), which was first enacted in 1914 as a result of the Titanic disaster, presents mandatory requirements for ship safety, such as the adoption of watertight bulkheads. However, ship accidents continue to occur despite the development and application of numerous safety technologies. In the case of a marine accident, the risk of sinking or capsizing due to flooding can be reduced by subdividing the watertight area, but shipbuilding costs, the weight increase for light ships, and the intact stability of the vessel must be considered together. For this reason, in this study, a BSS (buoyancy support system) was designed in accordance with ISO 23121-1 and ISO 23121-2. The characteristics of watertight and non-watertight spaces were reviewed and the BSS was implemented for a small car ferry. By applying additional safety technologies while securing economic feasibility in terms of ship construction and operation, an alternative to reduce the loss of human lives, environmental damage, and property losses in the case of a ship accident was proposed.