Comments on: Falling down a ship's air intake

Question: Falling down a ship's air intake

guy72277 — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:33:28 -0800

What would happen if you jumped or fell down a big ship's air intake?

I'm thinking about a classic shaped one, but on deck and bigger, like on a ferry, cruise ship, oil tanker or cargo ship.

How far down do they go and what is at the bottom? Would you survive the fall and would you be able to summon help?

I can't find any reports of this happening but have seen it in films and comics.

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:39:06 -0800

They're called "Dorade Boxes" and you'd probably just get stuck on the same deck you were already on if you went in one. You'd also probably have to remove a grate or two to get in there.

By: amanda

amanda — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:46:39 -0800

Sadly, I don't think anything much would happen. There are most likely louvers between the intake and the rest of the system, not spinny blades of death. You might get stuck. You would probably be heard screaming for help and someone would have to get you out and then make you pay for damages.

Or, you know, wormhole. You'd be pretty screwed then.

By: guy72277

guy72277 — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:48:18 -0800

A Dorade Box it is then. Nifty solution for letting air but not water in.

Thanks for clearing that one up, Burhanistan.

By: guy72277

guy72277 — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:52:21 -0800

I thought it might be like the air intake or "power bulge" on a car. No supercharger fan blades sucking you in then. Good to know.

By: blueberry

blueberry — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:36:43 -0800

I believe Indiana Jones hid in one of these in Raiders of the Lost Ark (when the German sub stopped the ship he and Marion were on) with no ill effect—like he was just standing in a tube. The graphic at the link above seems to show why.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:09:09 -0800

Pretty sure they appear with sailors in them in one or two classic musicals of the Busby Berkeley type, or a Bob Hope picture, or something (getting nothing with the Googles, but then, why would you?). At the time, the gag was probably pretty well known.