Damage Control Systems and Equipment

Objectives A. Know the 4 classes of fire and the firefighting agents, equipment, and procedures to extinguish each class. B. Know the use of equipment, materials, and procedures for countering flooding. C. Know the principles of operation of the fire main system. D. Know the procedures, objectives and priorities in combating the progressive deterioration resulting from fire and underwater hull damage. E. Know the various material conditions of readiness onboard ship.

General DC Actions Rig spaces for casualty Establish primary & secondary boundaries Fight and control casualty with appropriate means Localize casualty & stop flooding/extinguish fire Restore systems to operation Ventilate the affected spaces if necessary

Flooding & Fire Must ensure restoration of vital services – Propulsion – Electrical power – Vital piping and machinery Must always keep safety in mind -> NEVER try to be a one person DC party!!!

Casualty/DC Reports Initial report – What casualty is & what system – Where casualty is -> be specific Follow up report – Man in charge – Assistance required – Injured personnel – Damaged equipment – Status of casualty Keep DC Central informed!!! allows for proper organization of damage control efforts “MAIDS” “MAIDS”

Fires Elements of the fire tetrahedron Classes of fires – Alfa:wood, paper (leaves ash) – Bravo: fuel, oil (flammable liquids) – Charlie: electrical – Delta:combustible metals (Mg, Na, Ti) Safety concerns: smoke, toxic gases, heat, explosion

Extinguishing Agents Alpha: water (firemain, sprinklers) – Removes heat Bravo: AFFF, PKP, HALON – Smothers fire Charlie: CO 2 (portable, installed) – Displaces Oxygen Delta: water – Solid stream, fog – Jettison

Firefighting Equipment Firemain system – Receives water from sea & distributes to hoses and sprinklers – Several types of construction Single Main (small ships) Horizontal Loop Vertical Loop Sprinkler systems – Installed in magazines, turrets, weapons rooms – Can be manual or automatic

Firefighting Equipment All-purpose nozzle – Solid stream – High-velocity fog – Low-velocity fog (rotate nozzle) Hoses – Standard 50’ or 100’ lengths 1.5” diameter – Collapsible

Firefighting Equipment Foam equipment – AFFF - Aqueous film-forming foam – Used for Class B (smothers fire) Portable extinguishers – CO 2 : Class C or small Class A/B – AFFF: Class A or B fires – PKP: Class B fires (dry chemicals)

Firefighting Equipment Oxygen Breathing Apparatus (OBA) – Self-contained breathing protection – Generates its own oxygen – Provides minutes of air/canister Emergency Air Breathing (EAB) Emergency Air Breathing (EAB) Breathing device that plugs into ship’s air Breathing device that plugs into ship’s air Essentially unlimited air supply Essentially unlimited air supply Must unplug/replug each time you move Must unplug/replug each time you move Emergency Exit Breathing Device (EEBD) Emergency Exit Breathing Device (EEBD) Self-contained Self-contained Provides 15 minutes of oxygen to allow for escape Provides 15 minutes of oxygen to allow for escape

Firefighting Equipment Naval Firefighting Thermal Imager (NFTI) – Battery-powered thermal imaging device – Provides “sight” in poor visibility (smoke) – Provides indication of hot spots Fire Fighting Ensemble (FFE) – Flame/heat retardant – Full-body suit to prevent exposed skin – Worn in conjunction with OBA

Flooding Can occur for a number of reasons – Missile / Torpedo hit – Damaged piping – Running aground Must not only stop flooding but also remove water that has entered ship – Drain system used – Portable submersible pumps used Repair leak & structural damage – Use shoring, wedge, shole, strongback etc.

Flooding Actions Identify flooding location Stop / Limit flooding Establish boundaries – Water tight bulkheads – Piping system Repair: shoring, patching, plugging Dewater Spaces Restore vital systems / equipment

Priority of Dewatering Spaces where damage cannot be repaired? Stability (List / Trim) Equipment: – P-250 pump – Electric submersible pump – Eductor

Safety Precautions During Damage Control Operations Flashburn Electric Shock Exploding Ordnance / Fuel Heat Stress Overcome by smoke / CO 2 Loss of lighting / Trip hazards

Material Conditions of Readiness All doors, hatches, scuttles, etc. classified and marked Each material condition represents a degree of tightness/security Maximum closure cannot be maintained at all times - why? Three conditions of readiness - what?

X-ray (X) – Provides least protection – Set when ship not in danger of attack (well- protected harbor) Yoke (Y) – More protection – Set in unprotected harbor/after hours or normal underway Zebra (Z) – Maximum protection – Wartime or General Quarters (GQ) – Localize fire/flooding Material Conditions of Readiness X Y Z

Special Classifications Circle X and Y: – Letter within black circle – May be opened without permission, but must be closed after use Circle Z: – Letter within red circle – May be opened during GQ for comfort of the crew with CO permission – Guarded while open so they can be shut immediately Z Y X

Special Classifications William (W): – Sea suction valves which serve vital systems cooling water. Closed only to prevent further damage Circle W: – Letter within black circle – Ventilation fittings, which are normally open, are closed when NBC attack is imminent Dog Z: – Letter within black ‘D’ – Closed during darken ship as well as General Quarters W W Z D

Questions?