This watertight sub-division is of vital importance to the safety of the ship if her hull is damaged below the waterline, because it confines any ingress of water to the immediate vicinity of the damage instead of allowing it to flow unchecked throughout the ship .
La macandelwana angangeni manzi abalulekile kakhulu kukhuseleko lwenqanawa ukuba isiqu sayo sonakalisiwe ngaphantsi kumgca wamanzi, ngenxa yokuba ivalela nakuphi na ukungena kwamanzi kwindawo ekufutshane yomonakalo endaweni yokuwafumela ukuba angene kwindawo engajongwanga enqanaweni.