A tension leg platform is secured to the sea floor with a plurality of tendons, each of the tendons being in tension due to buoyancy of the platform. The tendons are made up of joints of pipe secured together to define a hollow interior sealed from entry of sea water. A lower section of the joints of pipe of each of the tendons has smaller inner and outer diameters and greater wall thicknesses than an upper section of the joints of pipe. Bulkheads are sealed within the interior of the upper and lower sections of the joints of pipe of each of the tendons. The bulkheads are spaced apart from each other along the lengths of the upper and lower sections of the joints of pipe to define separate compartments sealed from each other.