VB

Ph I

WATER TIGHT DOORS

1. Sketch and describe vertically sliding power driven water tight door.
Explain SOLAS requirement of water tight door for passenger ships

2. Sketch and describe the construction of water tight door and criteria
as per load line convention

3. Sketch and describe the functioning of a power operated sliding

type watertight door

4. Explain the different categories of watertight doors. Describe the

inspection and testing requirement of W/T doors, side scuttles and
storm valves on passenger ships.

5. Draw a neatly labelled sketch of a power operated sliding watertight

door on a passenger ships. Describe the inspection requirement for
such doors as per SOLAS

6. Sketch and label water tight door fitted in a watertight bulkhead

below the water line. State briefly the regulation concerning
construction of such W/T doors as per solas’74 amended.

Water tight door sketch – HD McGeorge – page 198 fig 18.4

Description – page 199

Sliding type watertight door – D.J.Eyres page 198

Vertical sliding watertight door – ship construction Reeds – page

66 figure 6.3

VB PH1- water tight doors

A watertight door is fitted to any access opening in a
watertight bulkhead.

Such openings must be cut only where

necessary for the safe working of the ship and are kept as small
as possible, 1.4 m high and 0.75 m wide being usual.

The doors may be mild steel, cast steel or cast iron, and either vertical or
horizontal sliding, the choice being usually related to the
position of any fittings on the bulkhead.

The means of closing the doors must be positive, i.e., they must not rely on
gravity or a dropping weight.

Vertical sliding doors are closed by means of a

vertical screw thread which turns in a gunmetal nut secured to
the door.

The screw is turned by a spindle which extends above

the bulkhead deck, fitted with a crank handle allowing complete
circular motion.

VB PH1- water tight doors

A similar crank must be fitted at the door. The
door runs in vertical grooves which are tapered towards the
bottom, the door having similar taper, so that a tight bearing fit
is obtained when the door is closed.

Brass facing strips are fitted to both the door and the frame.

There must be no groove at the bottom of the door to collect dirt which
would prevent the door fully closing.

An indicator must be fitted at the control position above the bulkhead

deck, showing whether the door is open or closed.

VB PH1- water tight doors

INSPECTION OF WATERTIGHT DOORS

VB PH1- water tight doors

 1. Operating drill every week for the following
Watertight doors, side scuttles valves and closing
mechanism of scuppers
2. If voyage duration exceeds one week, conduct drill before
leaving port and thereafter at least once a week during
voyage
3. All watertight doors in main transverse bulkheads to be
operated daily
4. At least once a week, a periodical inspection is to be
carried out on WT doors and mechanisms, all valves etc.
5. Such valves, doors and mechanisms to be suitably marked
for proper use
6. Time of closing and time of opening of hinged doors, side
scuttles etc. to be recorded in the log-book
7. A record of drills and inspections to be entered in the log-
book including defects if found any

Regulations governing WT doors

It is desirable that WT bulkhead remain intact.

But sometimes, it may be necessary to provide access on either

side and hence, WT doors are provided e.g. engine room and
shaft tunnel in cargo ships and between accommodation
spaces in pass ships

1. Where a door is cut in the lower part of the WT bulkhead,

strength of bulkhead to maintain
2. The opening is to be framed and reinforced if the vertical
stiffeners are cut in way of opening
3. If the stiffener spacing is increased to accommodate
opening, scantling of stiffeners on either side of opening to
be increased equivalent to that of unpierced bulkhead
4. WT doors below waterline be of either vertical or
horizontal sliding type; swinging hinged type not
permitted below waterline
5. Sliding doors be capable of being closed or opened on
either side of door with a list of 15 degrees, locally as well
as from a position above bulkhead deck.

VB PH1- water tight doors

 6. Remote control positions will have open / close indications
7. Vertical sliding door is turned by a shaft extending above
the bulkhead and fitted with a crank handle. This screw
thread turns in a gunmetal nut attached to the top of the
door.
8. Horizontal sliding doors have a vertical shaft extending
above bulkhead deck and may be operated by hand. They
also can be power operated either by an electric motor
and worm gear or a hydraulic ram.
9. When in place, all WT doors are given a hose test
10. Doors in pass ships are to be tested under a head of
water extending to the bulkhead deck. This may be done
before the door is fitted in the ship.

WATERTIGHT DOORS (Pass ships) - SOLAS REGULATIONS

–(power operated doors)

Ref: SOLAS Chap II-1 Regulation 15

1. Satisfactory means for closing of openings in watertight

bulkheads be provided
2. If electric cables are carried through watertight
subdivision bulkheads, watertight integrity be ensured
3. Watertight doors be capable of being closed
simultaneously from Wheel house in not more than 60 sec
with the ship in upright position
4. The means of operation of a sliding watertight door be
capable of closing it with ship listed to 15 degrees either
way
5. Means of indication for doors position as OPEN or CLOSED
be provided at all remote operating positions
6. Controls for opening and closing the door by power from
both sides of the door be provided; closing the door by
power be provided from Bridge.
7. An audible alarm, distinct from other nearby alarms, will
sound while remote closing; This alarm will sound for

VB PH1- water tight doors

 minimum 5 sec but not more than 10 sec before door
begins to move and continue to sound till door is
completely closed
8. Door closing time (from the time it starts moving to
reaching final position) – not less than 20 sec or more
than 40 sec in ship upright position
9. The required electrical power (for power operated doors)
be supplied from ESB
10. The associated control, indication and alarm circuits
be supplied from ESB; in the event of failure of main or
emergency electric power, they will be capable of being
supplied by transitional source of emergency power
11. The hydraulic system for power operated doors be
provided with a low – level alarm for oil tanks; Alarms be
audible and visual at Bridge.
12. If an independent electrical system and motor is
employed, each door with each power source be supplied
from a transitional source of emergency power with
sufficient capacity to operate the door 3 times (closed –
open – closed) in the event of failure of main or
emergency source of electrical power
13. Electrical equipment and components for watertight
doors be situated above the bulkhead deck as far as
practicable; if situated below bulkhead deck, suitable
protection against ingress of water be made
14. Electrical fault in one door circuit will not cause a
failure in any other door circuit
15. Leakage of water into electrical equipment will not
cause watertight door to open

VB PH1- water tight doors

What is a Watertight Door ?
Watertight doors are special types of doors found on ships that prevent the
ingress of water from one compartment to another during floods or incidents
and thus serve as a protection barrier.

Where watertight doors used on ship

It is Used on Ship where Chances of flooding are high such as Engine Room
Compartment,shaft Tunnel and such spaces on ship.

Types of Watertight Doors on Ships

Different Types are :-

Type A :- This type of door can be left open and can only be shut during an
emergency.

Type B :- This type of watertight door should be closed and left open only
while workers are working in the adjacent compartment.

Type C :- This sort of watertight door must be kept closed all the time. It can
only be opened for a reasonable period of time while personnel are passing
through the door compartment.

Type D :- This form of watertight doors doesn’t comply with SOLAS. These
doors are to be closed before the voyage starts and kept closed during
navigation. It is not possible to upgrade those doors to another category.

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 1) Class 1—Hinged door

2) Class 2—Sliding door, operated by hand gear only.

3) Class 3—Sliding door, operated by power and by hand gear.

Weathertight and Watertight - difference

Watertight as defined in SOLAS is: capable of preventing the passage of water in

any direction under the head of water likely to occur in intact and damaged
conditions.

Weathertight is defined as that in any sea conditions water will not penetrate the
ship.

Easy thumb rule- All opening above waterline are weather tight. All openings below
waterline are watertight.

VB PH1- water tight doors