Nautical Term: Transverse bulkhead
Definition of Transverse bulkhead
A transverse bulkhead is a solid partition wall constructed of planking or plating, which runs perpendicular to the ship’s longitudinal axis across a specific portion or the entire width of the ship. The primary role of transverse bulkheads is to subdivide the ship into a sequence of watertight compartments. This design ensures that any structural damage, such as a hull rupture, will only flood the affected compartment and not cause the loss of the entire vessel.
For instance, consider a cargo ship with a length of 150 meters and a beam of 30 meters. The ship’s cargo holds are situated in the central portion of the ship. To ensure the safety of the cargo and the passengers, the ship is designed with a series of transverse bulkheads that divide the cargo holds into watertight compartments. This compartmentalization design ensures that any structural damage to the hull will only flood the affected compartment and not cause the loss of the entire vessel and the valuable cargo it carries.
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