A three inch overboard discharge line, located six feet below the waterline, has ruptured and separated from the hull. What would be the minimum number of strokes per minute required from a 10" x 8" x 12" duplex double acting reciprocating bilge pump, operating at 96% efficiency, to keep the bilge water level from continuing to rise? See Illustration SF-0034

Question

Accepted Answer

Option A: 87 strokes per minute. Calculating fluid discharge through a hull rupture requires applying Torricelli's theorem for head pressure based on depth below the waterline. Balancing this ingress against duplex pump volumetric displacement yields the required pump speed of 87 strokes per minute.