subject: Testing & Using Watertight Doors [print this page] Due to ship building regulations, many vessels now require various watertight doors to be built into the structure. This is for safety purposes, so that should an accident of a serious nature occur, the vessel will be able to take on a certain amount of water without actually sinking. But regulating testing of these doors is essential to the maintenance and upkeep of any vessel.
First and foremost, the watertight doors, or marine doors, must be fitted properly, and include the necessary opening and closing mechanisms both on the inside and outside of the door. This is important on a passenger ship or a cargo ship, and all crew members should be fully instructed on how to open and close these marine doors.
The doors should be approved by the shipping regulations, and purchased from trustworthy companies.
The doors should be inspected and tested regularly, as will all other onboard equipment, devices, doors, and safety features. There is no excuse for something not being tested. The safety of crew members and passengers depends on every aspect of a seafaring vessel being tested and brought up to the required standards before it sets sail.
The watertight doors should be kept shut at all times while at sea. This may seem obvious to some, but there have been many cases where doors were either left open, or were not closed properly, which caused deaths of passengers and crew members.
Crew members should always follow all instructions for handling these doors properly, and should respect the suggestions and orders of Marine Inspectors who come on board to test or inspect any areas of the ship.
There is no excuse for deaths resulting from improper use of watertight doors. These doors are safety features, and should be used properly at all times.
