Storage of sufficient fresh water to provide for the domestic purposes of a warship's crew throughout any but a very short voyage would constitute an uneconomical use of weight and space; fresh water is therefore distilled on board from the surrounding sea water by means of evaporators, in which the sea water is boiled by steam from the boilers and the resulting steam condensed into fresh water, which is pumped into the storage tanks .
Ukugcinwa kwamanzi amatsha ukwenzela imisebenzi eqhelekileyo yabakhweli basenqanaweni kulo lonke uhambo kodwa olufutshane olungenangeniso, ngoko ke amanzi amatsha olwandle athi abiliswe ngendlela zezikhuphi-mphuna nto leyo ethi yenze amanzi amatsha, athi athunyelwe kumatanki okuwagcina.