Bulkhead

a partition in the hull of a ship. The portion of a ship below the waterline is divided into compartments, usually by water-tight partitions running crosswise and lengthwise. In case a hole is made by running against a rock or by some other accident, the water-tight doors in the partitions surrounding the space through which water is entering are closed tightly, and, though the room may fill with water, the ship suffers little inconvenience. No charge of grosser neglect can be brought against a ship's commander than one of neglecting to close his bulkheads in case of collision at sea. As the front end of a ship is most apt to be stove in, the forward bulkhead is made with especial care and is called the collision bulkhead. The term is applied also to any framework designed to prevent water or quicksand from breaking into a tunnel while the workmen are at work.