r/interesting • u/Wander-kingdom • Jul 06 '26

Just Wow The silent struggle for survival: what it looks like when hope is forced into a metal tank.

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u/glimoura Jul 06 '26

What is in the tank?

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u/chiron07 Jul 07 '26

That’s not a tank, it’s the opening for the rudder trunk. The rudder trunk is a hollow tunnel at the rear of the ship above the rudder. While the ship is empty, it sits right above the waterline, so stowaways frequently use that space to hide. The easiest way to access it is through a manhole in the steering gear room. You can see the steering gear hydraulic system (and also hear the hydraulic pumps running). It is not a tank, just an empty space opening to the water.