of flooding in the compartments that they bound. To
form watertight boundaries, structural bulkheads must
be joined to all decks, shell plating, bulkheads, and
other structural members with which they come in
contact. Main subdivision bulkheads extend through the
watertight volume of the ship, from the keel to the
bulkhead deck, and serve as flooding boundaries in the
event of damage below the waterline.
SUMMARY
Ship repair is the fundamental duty of the Hull
Maintenance Technician. In this chapter, you have been
exposed to the basic organization of the IMA and some
of the personnel assigned to this type of organization.
You have also been exposed to the basics of the QA
program and its link to maintenance. When assigned to
your command you should study your command's
Figure 2-19.--Bulkhead stiffeners.
organization and QA program for a greater understand-
ing of your role in that organization. As you gain
experience and advance in rate you will be given the
vertical plane and aligned with deck longitudinales; the
opportunity to become a work center supervisor. The
stiffeners are secured at top and bottom to any
appointment as a work center supervisor carries a lot of
intermediate deck by brackets attached to deck plating.
responsibility and accountability for your actions. But
The size of the stiffeners depends upon their spacing,
the role of a work center supervisor is often a reward-
the height of the bulkhead, and the hydrostatic pressure
ing and challenging position. As a work center
that the bulkhead is designed to withstand.
supervisor you will be expected to organize, plan, and
supervise the completion of various tasks that met all
Bulkheads and bulkhead stiffeners must be strong
the requirements of the QA program.
enough to resist excessive bending or buckling in case
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