A Dynamic Model for Roll Motion of Ships due to Flooding

Because of the large undivided deck spaces, RoRo vessels are often sensitive to rapid capsizing due to sudden ingress of water. Following a high-energy damage, a rapidly increasing heeling moment is induced by the ingress of water, which generates a roll motion of the damaged vessel. If, additionally, the car deck is flooded and/or the cargo is shifted, the heeling moment may exceed the residual restoring moment, which results in capsizing.