While double hulls are now a must in tanker construction and, because of strength considerations, have also become the norm for container vessels, vehicle carriers are generally not fully double-skinned. The neglect of this important safety aspect is all the more surprising since the leak stability of ro-ro vessels is considerably endangered by extended free deck spaces, which, in case of water ingress, can cause rapid and dramatic consequences. A salutary example was seen, for example, with the Tricolor.
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