A design-oriented method for analysis of the structural damage due to ship collisions is developed by using the idealized structural unit method(ISUM). The method takes into account yielding, crushing, rupture, the coupling effects between local and global failure of the structure, the influence of strain-rate sensitivity and the gap/contact conditions. The method is verified by a comparison of experimetal and numerical results obtained from test models of double-skin plated structures in collision/grounding situations with the present solutions. As an illustrative example, the method has been used for analyses of a side collision of a double-hull tanker. Several factors affecting ship collision response. namely the collision speed and the scantlings/arrangements of strength members, are discussed.