A system is disclosed for providing emergency buoyancy to a vessel in
response to a flooding condition in one or more vessel compartments cause
by external explosion, collision or projectile damage. The system may
comprise one or more flexible inflatable bags disposed on an upper
inboard bulkhead of one or more vessel compartments. When a flooding
condition is detected in a compartment due to breach of the ship's hull,
an integral gas delivery system may provide a quantity of gas to the
interior of the bag in that compartment, causing the bag to expand and
push flooding water back out through the ship's hull. This displacement
of water, and the buoyant force provided by the filled bag will enable
the ship to maintain nominal floatation. The system may be configured to
provide a controlled expansion of the bag(s) to enable personnel located
in the compartment sufficient time to evacuate.