The state of a ship that is sinking (generally a large ship) where it is losing buoyancy and taking on water so fast that the ship starts to rapidly head downwards.
Typically, this stage in happens when water begins to reach the uppermost decks and the funnels, although it may differ from ship to ship because of certain circumstances and design of the watertight bulkheads. The Final Plunge is not over until the ship has sunk below the water line, usually not that long after the plunge began.
In shorter words, it is the beginning of the end for a ship’s service life due to reaching the point of no return when it comes to a drastic loss of buoyancy.
Typically, this stage in happens when water begins to reach the uppermost decks and the funnels, although it may differ from ship to ship because of certain circumstances and design of the watertight bulkheads. The Final Plunge is not over until the ship has sunk below the water line, usually not that long after the plunge began.
In shorter words, it is the beginning of the end for a ship’s service life due to reaching the point of no return when it comes to a drastic loss of buoyancy.
The Final Plunge of the R.M.S. Titanic occurred when the bow leaned so far downwards that water began spilling over the watertight bulkheads, and started to lap against the bridge and foward most funnel. Titanic would disappear beneath the waves 15-20 minutes after its final plunge began, with a total sinking time of ~2 hours and 40 minutes.
by Pét January 28, 2022