Heavy weather damage report

A heavy-weather damage report is the record the master raises after a vessel sustains structural, equipment, or cargo damage from severe seas, recording the conditions, the damage found, and immediate action taken. It supports the ISM Code section 9 duty to report and analyze accidents and hazardous occurrences and the master’s duty to inform the company and, where required, the flag state and class. The report feeds insurance and any general average or cargo claim, triggers a class condition or recommendation where the hull or equipment is affected, and may prompt activation of the emergency response service for a stability or strength assessment.