Shipboard Damaged Stability Assessment: The Flooding Casualty Control Software

The Flooding Casualty Control Software (FCCS) was developed under the auspices of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NavSea) and is currently being deployed on a variety of ships in the fleets of both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard. The primary objective of FCCS is to enable damage control personnel to identify critical stability conditions, especially when related to the loss of reserve buoyancy due to battle damage and the destabilizing effects of large quantities of firefighting water, in a timely manner. FCCS was initially deployed in 1990. It utilizes the standard algorithms of the Ship Hull Characteristics Program (SHCP). The user interface was designed to allow quick familiarity for shipboard users, primarily the damage control assistant (DCA) and his staff. Intact stability evaluations include the effects of topside icing, high winds, personnel crowding, heavy lifts over the side, high speed turns, and towing. FCCS also supports ballasting analysis for amphibious ships as well as providing bottom reaction and beached stability data for grounding incidents. By providing a tool for the “fuel king” and DCA to generate the required daily updates on the current ship load and liquids status, FCCS is assured of an accurate baseline in the event of damage. The design allows the evaluation of the ultimate ship stability status for a damage event using simple compartmentation and flooding status inputs. Evaluation of the adequacy of resulting stability, as well as identification of such critical stability parameters as off center loading, margin line immersion, and negative GM, are accomplished by the program. Guidance is provided for the user to initiate appropriate flooding related damage control activities. Initially fitted on USS Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigates, FCCS databases have been for the USCG Hamilton class high endurance cutters, USS Arleigh Burke class Aegis destroyers, and a variety of other U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard ship classes. The program accommodates such special features as well decks, compensating fuel systems, and a variety of evaluation criteria. FCCS is currently configured for use as a non-integrated backfit to existing ships. Development efforts are underway in parallel to provide FCCS as a module for the Integrated Survivability Management System (ISMS).