Leonardo da Vinci designed a double hull intended to reduce flooding after a ship’s outer hull was damaged.
A double hull places a second layer of structure inside the outer shell, creating a space between the two layers. If the outside is punctured, the inner barrier can limit the entry of water into the main interior. Leonardo explored this idea in ship-design studies as part of his broader work on naval engineering and watercraft.
The concept is related to, but not identical with, a modern ship’s double-bottom structure. Contemporary double-hull tankers use separated hull layers to reduce the chance that cargo tanks will rupture in a collision or grounding. Leonardo’s design should not be treated as the direct blueprint for every modern double-hull vessel.
Leonardo also studied paddles, locks, canals, and other systems for moving people and goods on water. His maritime inventions were mostly proposals in notebooks, and many were not built. The double-hull idea is notable because it applies compartmentalization and redundancy to ship safety.