Instead, the water was allowed to pool inside the bottom of the hull, below the main floor, and was able to move relatively unobstructed within this area when the ship changed orientation. The resulting instability was probably a significant contributing factor to the loss of the vessel.
The water was allowed to accumulate at the bottom of the hull, below the main floor, and could move freely within that area as the ship changed its orientation. This resulted in instability, which likely played a significant role in the vessel's sinking.