Following on from the success of the first RINA international conference on The Damaged Ship; this event will focus on the assessment and analysis of stability, strength, sea worthiness of a ship damaged by collision, grounding, structural failure, fire or explosion. It will also consider procedures to minimise risks for passengers, crew, ship, environment and to develop safe countermeasures including sequences for transferring, offloading cargo and ballast water for salvage operations. After any major accident it is imperative to rapidly quantify the damage, assess damage stability and the residual strength of a vessel. Damage stability appraisal should also consider the likelihood of progressive flooding, capsizing probability and effect of waves on stability. There is a need to consider both the global strength capability of the ship structure and the local residual strength of damaged and buckled plating and the effect of flooding on internal structure. Although too early to draw conclusions, the Costa Concordia accident once again reinforces the need for a better understanding of a damaged ship's behaviour.