Nautical Term: Breakwater
Definition of Breakwater
A breakwater is a structural feature composed of vertical walls or plates, which are installed on a forward weather deck of a vessel or harbor. These structures form a V-shaped shield, which effectively prevents or reduces the amount of water that is shipped over the bow during heavy seas.
For example, The fishing vessel, ‘Sea Lion,’ was equipped with a breakwater to protect against the heavy waves in the North Atlantic. The V-shaped structure of the breakwater effectively absorbed the impact of the waves and prevented water from entering the forward weather deck of the ‘Sea Lion.’
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