The first type of categorization of bulkheads is based upon their position in the vessel. There are two main types of ship bulkheads per position:
Transverse bulkheads
Transverse bulkheads divide the ship from side to side and are habitually used to create watertight compartments on the vessel. Additionally, they stiffen the structure of the hull, preventing deformation and racking stresses
The video below explains how transverse bulkheads help with preventing structural damage to the ship.
Longitudinal bulkheads
Longitudinal bulkheads extend fore and aft and divide the vessel along its length. Engineers use them inside traverse bulkheads to increase the number of compartments even further. As a result, the ship conserves even more buoyancy when certain compartments are flooded and isolated.
Additionally, they are one of the main construction elements that strengthen the longitudinal integrity of the ship. Consequently, they are essential in larger vessels such as tankers and commercial vessels.
The second method of categorizing bulkheads is by purpose. Below we take a look at some major types of ship bulkheads regarding their usage.
Watertight Bulkheads
As their name suggests, watertight bulkheads have one main purpose - to divide the ship into smaller, watertight compartments. Depending on the size of the ship, they can be either:
Constructed from a single plate for smaller ships.
Reinforced to increase the stiffness of the bulkhead for larger ships. This way, the bulkhead can support a maximum amount of hydrostatic pressure once the compartment is flooded.
Non-watertight Bulkheads
Shipwrights install non-watertight bulkheads for any other type of use where there’s no need to isolate the compartment in case of a flood. They erect them to divide existing sections into smaller rooms to create cabins, storage compartments, engine casings, tool storage, etc.
Still, these bulkheads contribute to the stiffness of the yacht, making it resistant to deformation forces from navigation.
Collision bulkhead
Collision bulkheads are a type of watertight bulkhead situated in the front part of the ship. This part of the ship is particularly strong because as its name suggests, it limits the damage from full-on collisions with other vessels or segments of land. The anchor is usually situated in this part of the ship.
Insulation bulkhead
Finally, the last type of ship bulkhead by purpose is the insulation bulkhead. Fire is a major concern on ships due to the high amounts of flammable materials (fuel, oil) that are carried at all times.
Engineers erect these types of bulkheads to isolate fire-hazard compartments from the rest of the ship. Consequently, bulkheads surrounding fuel compartments and engine rooms should be fire-resistant following SOLAS fire protection requirements.
Types of bulkhead on the ship according to construction
The final categorization of bulkheads is based on their construction. There are two main types of ship bulkheads according to this characteristic:
Plain bulkheads
You can easily distinguish plain bulkheads because they are constructed from a straight piece of metal. On smaller ships like yachts, plain bulkheads don’t need any reinforcements.
On larger vessels, however, engineers need to harden the plain bulkheads to provide maximum resistance. To achieve this, they weld or bolt down stiffeners to the bulkhead plates.
