Why do ships always seem to be pouring water from the side?

Question

I always see ships that seem to be shooting water from the hull, why do they do this?

Is it water sucked in by the engine for cooling purposes which is then pumped back overboard?

https://i.redd.it/ip5h2hn9qq791.jpg

In: 4419

Answer 1

On boats that people own for fun, it’s the bilge pump. There’s a sensor that trips when water gets deep enough inside the hull. This can be for several reasons. The top deck isnt 100% water proof, so if they take a wave over the bow, some leaks into the hull. Some built in ice chests/bait wells are designed to drain inside the hull. Lastly, hull leaks, whether that be cracks in the hull or the drain plug.