downflooding angle

English

Noun

downflooding angle (plural downflooding angles)

1. (nautical) The minimum bank angle which will submerge at least one non-watertight opening on a boat, ship, or other vessel, allowing for downflooding into the interior of the vessel.
   • 2017 December 12, National Transportation Safety Board, “1.12.10 Postaccident Analysis of Stability, Structures, and Sinking”, 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, page 156:

     Figure 60 shows the downflooding angles for the downflooding points described above, plus the angle at which the edge of the freeboard deck would have been immersed (about 15°). The downflooding angles are superimposed on two righting arm curves. The upper curve is the righting arm for El Faro in the intact condition on the morning of the sinking, before flooding began and with no wind. The lower curve is the righting arm for the vessel with hold 3 flooded to 20 percent and a sustained 80-knot beam wind.