Compartment (ship)

By the Athenian trireme era (500 BC),[1] the hull was strengthened by enclosing the bow behind the ram, forming a bulkhead compartment.

These compartments strengthened the junks and slowed flooding in case of holing during the Han and Song dynasties.

[7][8] As wood began to be replaced by iron in European ships in the 18th century, new structures, like bulkheads, started to become prevalent.

[10] Watertight subdivision limits loss of buoyancy and freeboard in the event of damage, and may protect vital machinery from flooding.

Standards of watertight subdivision assume no dewatering capability, although pumps kept in working order may provide an additional measure of safety in the event of minor leaks.

Early watertight subdivision tested with hoses sometimes failed to withstand the hydrostatic pressure of an adjoining flooded compartment.

[11] A closed weathertight door can seal out spray and periodic minor flow over weather decks, but may leak during immersion.

They afford privacy and temperature control for compartments formed by non-structural bulkheads within the ship's hull.