He should immediately report to the owners, who, in order to comply with class rules, must report to the classification society.
The society will usually require the ship to proceed to a port where it is represented, and will maintain the ship in class (in her damaged state) until she reaches that port. No certificate of seaworthiness will be required by the society. The master should make a detailed survey of the damage with the chief engineer, send a damage report to the owners’ technical superintendent, effect a temporary repair to make the vessel fit for the voyage, report to owners on completion, and sail for the survey port. Advice on the repair may be requested from the class society.
