• Doors: These serve the purpose of entry and exit from a compartment. During ship construction adequate space is reserved and left for door and its associated equipment.

Types of doors on board ships are:

  • Watertight doors
  • Weathertight doors
Watertight Doors



  • These doors prevent flooding due to ingress of water from one compartment to another by resisting the water pressure from both the sides of the door.
  • These types of doors are mainly seen below the deck level(below the waterline of the ship).
  • This doors are constructed in a manner that they will open and close upwards or sideways(sliding or hinged).
  • In RORO ships (vehicle carriers) ,most of the doors are watertight. These doors are used at places which are vulnerable to flooding like engine room compartments ,shaft tunnel etc.
  • These doors are made of either mild steel or cast steel which are strong  and durable. These doors are checked by high pressure water hose before being fitted onboard.
  • Watertight doors are in made in such a way that it can be automatically operated from the bridge or by hand operation.
Types of Watertight Doors:
  1. Type A: These doors are usually open all the time. It is only closed in case of an emergency.
  2. Type B:These Types of doors should be closed and are opened only if there is crew working in adjacent compartment.
  3. Type C:These doors should be kept closed all the time. It is only opened for a short period when it is required by the personnel to pass to the adjacent compartment.

  Weathertight Doors:

     



  • Weathertight doors are doors located above the deck level(above the waterline of the ship).
  • It prevents the water pressure from one side that is , it prevents the entry of water from outside to inside.
  • It is used to prevent the water entry to a compartment, which it is designated to protect .
  • These doors are designed to open outwards so that it opposes the direction of water pressure.
  • Weathertight doors are seen in poop decks, forecastle decks, deck\accommodation etc.