Bulkhead or Compartment Identification Plate

This is a brass bulkhead or compartment identification plate from a ship, likely naval.

Breakdown of the inscription:

• "02-94-2" → This is a compartment designation code used in shipboard compartment numbering systems.

  • 02 = deck number (the 2nd deck above the main deck).

  • 94 = frame number (frames are the structural ribs of the ship, numbered from bow to stern).

  • 2 = the compartment’s position relative to the ship’s centerline (odd = starboard, even = port).

• "PASSAGE" → This indicates the space type. In this case, a passageway or corridor.

• "WEATHER" → Refers to it being a weather deck passage (an area exposed to the elements, not fully enclosed inside the ship).

Purpose:

Plates like this were mounted on bulkheads (walls) or at the entrance of compartments to help sailors identify their location on the ship quickly, which is crucial for navigation, operations, and damage control.

So, this is essentially a shipboard location marker plate from a naval vessel, designating a weather-exposed passageway on the 02 deck near frame 94, port side.

3.75" x 2.5"