What were the 16 watertight compartments designed to do?

The 16 watertight compartments in ships, particularly in the Titanic, were designed to enhance safety by preventing flooding from breaches in the hull. If one compartment was breached, the others could remain sealed to help keep the vessel afloat. This compartmentalization aimed to improve the ship's survivability in case of accidents or collisions, allowing it to stay buoyant even if several compartments were flooded. However, if too many compartments were compromised, the ship could still sink.