downflooding point

English

Noun

downflooding point (plural downflooding points)

1. (nautical) An opening above the waterline of a boat, ship, or other vessel through which water or other liquid can enter if the vessel rolls to an excessive angle or rides lower than normally.
   • 2017 December 12, National Transportation Safety Board, “1.12.4 Methods of Assessing Stability”, in Marine Accident Report: Sinking of US Cargo Vessel SS El Faro, Atlantic Ocean, Northeast of Acklins and Crooked Island, Bahamas, October 1, 2015‎^[1], archived from the original on 15 May 2022, pages 138-139:

     The El Faro stability booklet did not identify the cargo hold ventilation trunk openings as potential downflooding points, nor did it indicate that they should be closed to prevent downflooding. None of the former officers or crew of El Faro remembered the dampers being closed at sea (even for expected heavy weather), except when they were periodically tested. When asked what a captain should have done if faced with the risk of fire or flooding, an ABS representative stated that the captain would have to "trade off one risk against another risk and maintain certain weathertight integrity while not compromising or not reintroducing some other risk."