Abstract: An ocean vessel such as an oil tanker or other ship has a hull assembly comprised of a non-ship structurally active, energy absorbing arrangement disposed between spaced-apart inner and outer hulls. The energy absorbing arrangement crushes in controlled fashion in response to impact loads on the ship's hull, such as may result if the ship collides with another ship or is grounded on an object such as a rock or reef. The crushing of the energy absorbing assembly provides highly efficient energy absorption so as to reduce the penetration of the hull and thereby greatly reduce the likelihood that the contents of, for example, an oil tanker may be spilled. In a first embodiment, a plurality of tubes extending between and joined to the opposite inner and outer hulls at desired angles relative thereto are provided with corrugations, flutes or dimples to enable the tubes to crush in controlled fashion.