diff --git a/src/move.c b/src/move.c
index 6c6449f3e..45a0c1fb8 100644
--- a/src/move.c
+++ b/src/move.c
@@ -698,11 +698,6 @@ static void set_coast(ship * sh, region * r, region * rnext)
     }
 }
 
-static float damage_drift(void)
-{
-    return (float)config_get_flt("rules.ship.damage_drift", 0.02);
-}
-
 static void drifting_ships(region * r)
 {
     direction_t d;
@@ -793,11 +788,6 @@ static void drifting_ships(region * r)
 
             if (sh != NULL) {
                 fset(sh, SF_DRIFTED);
-
-                damage_ship(sh, damage_drift());
-                if (sh->damage >= sh->size * DAMAGE_SCALE) {
-                    remove_ship(&sh->region->ships, sh);
-                }
             }
 
             if (*shp == sh)
@@ -1834,11 +1824,6 @@ sail(unit * u, order * ord, bool move_on_land, region_list ** routep)
                             ADDMSG(&f->msgs, msg_message("storm", "ship region sink",
                                 sh, current_point, sh->damage >= sh->size * DAMAGE_SCALE));
 
-                            /* damage the ship. we handle destruction in the end */
-                            damage_ship(sh, damage_drift());
-                            if (sh->damage >= sh->size * DAMAGE_SCALE)
-                                break;
-
                             next_point = rnext;
                             /* these values need to be updated if next_point changes (due to storms): */
                             tnext = next_point->terrain;