Nautical Term: Collision bulkhead
Definition of Collision bulkhead
A collision bulkhead is a watertight barrier, located approximately 25 feet aft of the bow, and extending from the keel to the shelter deck. This bulkhead is designed to prevent the entire ship from being flooded in case of a collision, thereby protecting the integrity of the vessel.
For example, in a dense shipping lane, a cargo ship may inadvertently collide with a tanker. However, due to the presence of a strong collision bulkhead in the cargo ship, the entire vessel is protected from being flooded, and the damage to the cargo ship is contained to a manageable level.
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