What occurs during progressive flooding?

During progressive flooding, water from one compartment of a vessel begins to overflow into an adjacent compartment. This situation typically occurs when the initial compartment becomes flooded beyond its capacity, often due to a breach in the hull or structural failure. As the water accumulates, the pressure can force it into neighboring compartments, leading to a chain reaction of flooding throughout the vessel. This phenomenon is particularly dangerous because it can quickly compromise the ship’s stability and increase the risk of capsizing.

The other options describe situations that do not accurately reflect the process of progressive flooding. Actively pumping water out (the second choice) would be a response to flooding rather than a description of the flooding process. Maintaining watertight compartments (the third choice) is crucial for vessel safety and directly contradicts the concept of progressive flooding. Compromising the ship’s hull (the fourth choice) may contribute to flooding, but it does not encapsulate the sequential nature of how water spreads from one compartment to another, which is central to understanding progressive flooding.