A recessed deck is a flat deck design with railings that prevent falls and create boundaries, commonly used on destroyers in WWII. It may not be practical for boats that need a staging site, but works well for some military and recreational vessels. In aircraft carrier design, it refers to having no superstructure at all.
A recessed deck is a ship design that features a flat deck from stem to stern, skirting the superstructure that provides space for navigation controls, luxury staterooms, and other features. This differs from other ship designs, where deck components can be raised or lowered, such as the lower quarterdeck seen on many ships. Discharge covers can be used on a variety of ship classes and can be advantageous for some uses, or a potential problem in others.
In the recessed deck design, railings prevent falls and create boundaries at the edge of the deck. Sailors can move freely throughout the deck without the need to climb ladders or ladders to access different areas. This design was famous on destroyers made for the United States Navy in World War II. Referencing their deck design, these ships were sometimes known as floating platforms.
The lack of a recessed deck area can be a problem for a boat that needs a staging site for divers, smaller boats, remotely operated vehicles, etc. For scientific research vessels, a recessed deck design may not be practical or advisable due to these issues. On recreational boats where people want to dive or fish, the design can also have significant drawbacks. However, for some military and recreational vessels, the flush-mounted deck design works well and may be preferred.
Designers of tuck-deck boats may want to create more freeboard, or height above water level, for safety or other reasons. They must also design proper deck drainage to ensure large waves do not flood the boat, and also use textured decking materials to provide traction for sailors and passengers as they move across the deck. The lack of recessed or raised deck areas can have an impact on visibility through the deck which can also be considered in the development of the superstructure, to ensure officers can clearly see all operations on the deck and identify safety issues or concerns as a man overboard.
In aircraft carrier design, “recessed deck” has a special meaning. Carriers with this design have no superstructure at all, placing air traffic control, navigation, and other functions below the flight deck. This setup is unusual in that it has some significant downsides in terms of security and navigation. Large fleet carriers typically maintain a superstructure island in one corner of the deck to handle these functions.
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