When ships became less dependent on water imports

When did desalination make ships independent of water resupply?

It developed gradually as ship power increased; even after plants became common, many ships continued taking on water in port into the postwar period.

Shipboard desalination was a gradual technical adoption rather than one moment when fleets became independent of shore water. Various forms began appearing as ships acquired enough generating power to make them practical. Water-making equipment also depended on suitable conditioning, so carrying a plant did not guarantee that every demand could be met continuously at sea. Many ships still took on water routinely in port through the Second World War and into the postwar period even after such plants were available.