Damage System / Control

The open sea is a dangerous place. If not careful, you risk to run aground and damage the hull of your ship. Also, heavy sea can cause flooding if your boat is not prepared.

Watertight hatches/doors

• Used to avoid water entering the ship during heavy weather situations
• Might stop or slow down flooding

Bilge pump system

• Might stop or slow down flooding
• More effective, when used together with closed watertight doors/hatches
• Keep in mind that the power system needs to be available to operate the bilge pumps

Depending on the ship size, AC power is needed to operate the bilge pumps

Hull damage

Each ship has a unique hull type — some are more resistant than others. Hull damage can occur when you touch the sea bottom, collide with other vessels, hit a pier, and so on. The location of the impact can influence whether flooding occurs. The severity of the impact also matters — you might be lucky when hitting a small object at low speed. However, if you run aground in heavy seas, each wave may slam your vessel against the bottom, causing severe hull damage and potentially leading to flooding.

Fender

When starting in a harbor, vessels are equipped with deployed fenders to protect the hull during harbor operations. Once you have left the harbor area, you may retract the fenders to avoid unnecessary drag or obstruction. However, always ensure they are deployed again before approaching a dock, another vessel, or during any situation where hull contact is likely — such as in rescue operations.