2.1 The damage control plan and damage control
booklet are intended to provide ship’s officers with clear information
on the ship’s watertight subdivision and equipment related to
maintaining the boundaries and effectiveness of the subdivision so
that, in the event of damage to the ship causing flooding, proper
precautions can be taken to prevent progressive flooding through openings
therein and effective action can be taken quickly to mitigate and,
where possible, recover the ship’s loss of stability.
2.2 The damage control plan and damage control
booklet should be clear and easy to understand. It should not include
information which is not directly relevant to damage control, and
should be provided in the working language of the ship. If the languages
used in the preparation of the plan and booklet are not one of the
official languages of the SOLAS Convention, a translation into one
of the official languages should be included.