46 C.F.R. § 171.080
(b) Extent and character of damage. For the purpose of paragraph (a) of this section, design calculations must assume that the damage—
(d) Definitions. For the purposes of paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) New vessel means a vessel—
(v) That has undergone—
(e) Damage survival for all existing vessels except those vessels authorized to carry more than 12 passengers on an international voyage requiring a SOLAS Passenger Ship Safety Certificate. An existing vessel is presumed to survive assumed damage if it meets the following conditions in the final stage of flooding:
(1) On a vessel required to survive assumed damage with a longitudinal extent of 10 feet (3 meters) plus 0.03L, the final angle of equilibrium must not exceed 7 degrees after equalization, except that the final angle may be as large as 15 degrees if—
(f) Damage survival for all new vessels except those vessels authorized to carry more than 12 passengers on an international voyage requiring a SOLAS Passenger Ship Safety Certificate. A new vessel is presumed to survive assumed damage if it is shown by calculations to meet the conditions set forth in paragraphs (f) (1) through (7) of this section in the final stage of flooding and to meet the conditions set forth in paragraphs (f) (8) and (9) of this section in each intermediate stage of flooding. For the purposes of establishing boundaries to determine compliance with the requirements in paragraphs (f) (1) through (9), openings that are fitted with weathertight closures and that are not submerged during any stage of flooding will not be considered downflooding points.
(1) Each vessel must have positive righting arms for a minimum range beyond the angle of equilibrium as follows:
| Vessel service | Required range (degrees) |
|---|---|
| Exposed waters, oceans, or Great Lakes winter | 15 |
| Partially protected waters or Great Lakes summer | 10 |
| Protected waters | 5 |
(3) Each vessel must have an area under each righting-arm curve of at least 0.015 meter-radians, measured from the angle of equilibrium to the smaller of the following angles:
(4) Except as provided by paragraph (f)(5) of this section, each vessel must have within the positive range the greater of a righting arm (GZ) equal to or greater than 0.10 meter or a GZ as calculated using the formula:

where— C = 1.00 for vessels on exposed waters, oceans, or Great Lakes winter; C = 0.75 for vessels on partially protected waters or Great Lakes summer; C = 0.50 for vessels on protected waters; Δ = intact displacement; and Heeling moment = greatest of the heeling moments as calculated in paragraphs (f)(4) (i) through (iv) of this section.
(i) The passenger heeling moment is calculated using the formula:
Passenger Heeling Moment = 0.5 (n w b)
where— n = number of passengers; w = passenger weight used for calculations as determined in accordance with § 170.090(c) of this chapter; and b = distance from the centerline of the vessel to the geometric center on one side of the centerline of the passenger deck used to leave the vessel in case of flooding.
(ii) The heeling moment due to asymmetric escape routes for passengers, if the vessel has asymmetric escape routes for passengers, is calculated assuming that—
(iii) The heeling moment due to the launching of survival craft is calculated assuming that—
(iv) The heeling moment due to wind pressure is calculated assuming that—
(6) Each vessel must have an angle of equilibrium that does not exceed—
(iii) A maximum of 15 degrees for flooding of one or two compartments where—
(B) The vessel has an area under each righting-arm curve, when the equilibrium angle is between 7 degrees and 15 degrees, in accordance with the formula:
A≥0.0025(θ−1)
where— A = Area required in m-rad under each righting-arm curve measured from the angle of equilibrium to the smaller of either the angle at which downflooding occurs or the angle of vanishing stability. θ = actual angle of equilibrium in degrees
(9) Each vessel must have a range of stability and a maximum righting arm during each intermediate stage of flooding as follows:
| Vessel service | Required range (degrees) | Required maximum righting arm |
|---|---|---|
| Exposed waters, oceans, or Great Lakes winter | 7 | 0.05 m |
| Partially-protected waters or Great Lakes summer | 5 | 0.035 m |
| Protected waters | 5 | 0.035 m |
Only one breach in the hull and only one free surface need be assumed when meeting the requirements of this paragraph.
(h) Equalization.
(i) Equalization must be automatic except that the Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Center may approve other means of equalization if—
(2) Equalization on vessels under 150 gross tons in ocean service and on all vessels in other than ocean service must meet the following:
(3) The estimated maximum angle of heel before equalization must be approved by the Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Center.
| Vessel designator 1 | Longitudinal penetration 2 | Transverse penetration 3 4 | Vertical penetration | Character of Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z | 10 feet (3 meters) plus ).03L or 35 feet (10.7 meters) whichever is less. 5 | B/5 | from the baseline upward without limit | Assumes no damage to any main transverse watertight bulkhead. |
| Y | 10 feet (3 meters) plus )0.03L or 35 feet (10.7 meters) whichever is less | B/5 | From the baseline upward without limit | Assumes damage to no more than one main transverse watertight bulkhead. |
| X | 10 feet (3 meters) plus )0.03L or 35 feet (10.7 meters whichever is less | B/5 | from the baseline upward without limit | Assumes damage to no more than one main transverse watertight bulkhead. |
| 20 feet (6.1 meters) plus 0.04L | B/5 | From the top of the double bottom upward without limit | Assumes damage to no more than one main transverse watertight bulkhead. | |
| W | 20 feet (6.1 meters) plus 0.04L | B/5 | From the baseline upward without limit | Assumes damage to at least two main transverse watertight bulkheads. |
| 1 W,X,Y, and Z are determined from Table 171.080(b). | ||||
| 2 L = LBP of the vessel in feet (meters). | ||||
| 3 B = the beam of the vessel in feet (meters) measured at or below the deepest subdivision load line as defined in § 171.010(b) except that, when doing calculations for a vessel that operates only on inland waters or a ferry vessel, B may be taken as the mean of the maximum beam on the bulkhead deck and the maximum beam at the deepest subdivision load line. | ||||
| 4 The transverse penetration is applied inboard from the side of the vessel, at right angles to the centerline, at the level of the deepest subdivision load line. | ||||
| 5 .1L or 6 feet (1.8 meters) whichever is greater for vessels described in § 171.070(e)(2). |
| Vessel category | Vessel designator |
|---|---|
| Vessels with type I subdivision and a factor of subdivision as determined from § 171.065 (a) or (b) of 0.33 or less | W. |
| Vessels with type I subdivision and a factor of subdivision as determined from § 171.065 (a) or (b) greater than 0.33 and less than or equal to 0.50 | X. |
| Vessels with Type II subdivision that are required to meet a two compartment standard of flooding | Y. |
| All other vessels | Z. |
| Spaces and tanks | Permeability (percent |
|---|---|
| Cargo, coal, stores | 60. |
| Accommodations | 95. |
| Machinery | 85. |
| Tanks | o or 95. 1 |
| 1 Whichever value results in the more disabling condition. |
[CGD 79-023, 48 FR 51017, Nov. 4, 1983, as amended by CGD 88-070, 53 FR 34537, Sept. 7, 1988; CGD 89-037, 57 FR 41826, Sept. 11, 1992; CGD 94-010, 60 FR 53713, Oct. 17, 1995; CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51049, Sept. 30, 1997; USCG-2007-29018, 72 FR 53968, Sept. 21, 2007; USCG-2007-0030, 75 FR 78085, Dec. 14, 2010; USCG-2012-0832, 77 FR 59788, Oct. 1, 2012; USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58287, Sept. 29, 2014]