watertight compartment
Flood-isolated hull division
A watertight compartment is a section of a ship's hull sealed to prevent water from spreading if the vessel is breached.
Ships are divided into multiple compartments so damage to one area doesn't flood the entire hull: The Titanic's watertight compartments failed to save her because water spilled over their tops.
Figuratively, watertight compartments describe rigid mental or organizational divisions that prevent ideas or information from mixing: He kept his work and personal life in watertight compartments.
- bulkheadInternal vessel barrier
- hullOuter covering or frame
- double bottomSecondary hull for safety
- submarineUnderwater naval craft
- shipSeagoing transport vessel
ship design · sealed · flooding · hatch · airtight · partition · bilge · vessel · torpedo · sinking · going down · damage control · Titanic · cargo hold · deck · naval · pressure · leakproof
water, watertight, compartment, waters, watered, watering, watery, waterproof, waterway