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Bulkheads
There are three basic types of bulkhead, watertight, non
watertight and tank.
Different types of bulkheads are designed to carry
out different functions.
The watertight bulkhead several important ones;
i. It divides the ship into watertight compartments
giving a buoyancy reserve in the event of hull being
breached. The number of compartments is governed
by regulation and type of vessel
ii. cargo separation
iii. They restrict the passage of flame
iv. Increased transverse strength, in effect they act
like ends of a box
v. Longitudinal deck girders and deck longitudinal
are supported by transverse watertight bulkheads
which act as pillars

Number of bulkheads (cargo ship)

Length of ship (m) Number of bulkheads
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Machinery
Above Not exceeding Machinery Aft
midships
90 105 5 5
105 115 6 5
115 125 6 6
125 145 7 6
145 165 8 7
165 190 9 8
To be considered To be considered To be considered
190
individually individually individually
The number of bulkheads depends upon the lenght
of the ship and the postion of the machinery. There must be
a collision bulkhead positioned at least 1/20th of the distance
from the forward perpendicular. This must be continuous to
the uppermost continuous deck.
The stern tube must be enclosed in a watertight
compartment formed by the stern frame and the after peak
bulkhead which may terminate at the first continuous deck
above the waterline. The engineroom must be contained
between two watertight bulkheads one of which may be the
after peak bulkhead.
Each main hold watertight bulkhead must extend to
the uppermost continuous deck unless the freeboard is
measured from the second deck in which case the bulkhead
can extend to the second deck.
A water tight bulkhead is formed from plates
attached to the shell, deck and tank top by means of welding.
The bulkheads are designed to withstand a full head water
pressure and because of this the thickness of the plating at
the bottom of the bulkhead may be greater than that at the
top. Vertical stiffeners are positioned 760mm apart except
were corrugated bulkheads are used.
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Watertight bulkheads must be tested with a hose at

a pressure of 200 Kn/m2 . The test being carried out from
the side on which the stiffeners are fitted and the bulkhead
must remain watertight.
Water tight bulkheads which are penetrated by
pipes, cables etc. must be provided with suitable glands
which prevent the passage of water.
Water tight doors
Vertically mounted watertight door

To allow the passage for personnel water tight doors

are fitted , openings must be cut only were essential and
they should be as small as possible. 1.4m high, 0.7m wide
being the usual. Doors should be of mild steel or cast steel,
and they may be arranged to close vertically or horizontally.
The closing action must be positive i.e. it must not
rely on gravity. Hinged water tight doors may be allowed in
passenger ships and in watertight bulkheads above decks
which are placed 2.2m or more above the waterline. Similar
doors may be fitted in weather decks openings in cargo ships.
Hinged water tight door
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Hinged water tight doors consist of a heavy section

door which when closed seals on a resilient packing mounted
in channel bar welded to the door frame.
The door is held firmly in the door frame when
closed by the dogging arrangements shown which allow the
doors to be opened from either side.Normally six of these
dogs are spread equally around the periphery.
Automatic watertight operating gear

Automatic operating gear allows the remote

operation of watertight doors. These are fitted on many
vessels including passenger ships.
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In the event of fire or flooding, operation of switches

from bridge/fire control area sends a signal to an oil diverter
valve. Oil from a pressurized hydraulic system is sent to a
ram moving the door.
A manual diverter valve may also operate the door
locally. In addition, in the event of loss of system a local
manual hand pump may operate pressure the door
remote door position indicators are fitted as well as
were appropriate alarms to indicate operation.
Bulkhead definitions
Class A
Are divisions forming bulkheads and decks that;
• Constructed of steel or equivalent
• Suitably stiffened
• Prevent passage of smoke and flame to the end of
one hour standard fire test
• Insulated using non-combustible material so that
average temperature on exposed side does not rise
above 140oC and point temperature above 180oC. The
time the bulkhead complies with this governs its class
A-60 60min
A-30 30Min
A-15 15Min
A-0 0Min
Class B
These are divisions formed by bulkheads, decks,
ceilings and lining
• Prevent passage of flame for first half hour of
standard fire test
• Insulated so average exposed side temperature
does not rise more than 139oC above original and no
single point rises more than 225oC above originalThe
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time the bulkhead complies with this governs its class

B-15 15Min
B-0 0Min
• Constructed of non-combustible material and all
materials entering the construction are similarly non-
combustible except where permitted
Class C
These are divisions constructed of approved non-
combustible materials. Combustible veneers are allowed were
they meet other criteria
Main vertical zones Divided by Class A bulkheads and not
exceeding 40m in length