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Basic Ship Structure Terms

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Kimberly Gwyneth Salem
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138 views10 pages

Basic Ship Structure Terms

notes

Uploaded by

Kimberly Gwyneth Salem
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

Introduction
A ship is a highly advanced piece of technology made up of many parts that work together
smoothly. It plays a crucial role in supporting both life and the global economy. Just like
every other thing, some names and terms define these structures on the ship from Forward
to Aft we are going to learn about the different types of structure, their names, and their
significance on the ship.

To get more such information regarding the deck side of a ship like ship stability, ship
construction, colregs, etc visit ourDECK DREAMER package.

2. Hull
It is the watertight enclosed structure of the ship that protects the cargo, machinery, and
accommodation spaces from weather, flooding, and structural damage.

The hull is the main floating body of the vessel that contributes to the vessel’s buoyancy
and keeps the vessel afloat by displacing the water, as explained in Archimedes’s principle.

The hull of a vessel can be subdivided into three regions:

o Fore part – It is the forward part of the hull situated at or towards the bow of a
vessel (end of the stem).
o Midship – It is the middle part of the hull residing between the forward and aft
perpendicular.
o Aft part – It is the rear section or back end of the vessel. The aft part is sometimes
also known as the stern of the vessel(end of the stern). Aft is the part underside of
which you will find the rudder, propeller, and engine compartment.

3. Fore and Aft Line


Any line that runs lengthwise in the ship. The line joining the middle of the bow and middle
of the stern i.e. fore-and-aft centreline. It is an imaginary line passing from stem to stern
through the center of the vessel
4. Port and Starboard
A Vertical plane passing through the fore and aft line divides the ship into two sides:-

o Port
o Starboard

When facing the bow, the starboard is on the right side and the port is on the left side

5. Hull Structures
5.1 Keel
It is the main structural part and backbone of the ship. It is the lowermost part of the ship
where the sides of the hull as port or starboard meet the bottom of the ship.

5.2 Bow
The bow is the forwardmost part of the ship hull, designed to cut through the water as the
vessel moves. In addition, the bow reduces the resistance and ensures smooth navigation of
the vessel. The benefits of the bow include improved fuel efficiency, increased speed, and
better overall stability.

6. Waterline

The topmost level of the water touches the outer body of the ship. A waterline can also be
defined as the special marking on the ship’s hull also known as Plimsoll line or
International load line. It indicates the maximum depth to which the vessel can be
immersed when loaded with cargo. This depth can vary with ship dimensions, type of
cargo, and water density in certain regions.

The surface which is above the waterline is called the ship’s side

The surface which is below the waterline is called the bottom.

7. Terms applied to Hull


7.1 Freeboard
A freeboard is the distance between the waterline and the main deck of a vessel. It is the
distance between the uppermost deck considered fully watertight and the official load line.

7.2 Draught
It is a technical term used to determine the distance between the surface of the water and
the keel of the vessel.

8. Type of Decks
A deck as we know is a continuous horizontal surface in a vessel. Decks mainly define tier
and level on vessels.

8.1 Weather deck


According to (SOLAS), a weather deck can be defined as a deck that is exposed to weather
from above or at least two sides.

8.2 Forecastle deck


Forecastle, also known as “fo’c’sle,” is the forward part of the ship’s upper deck found at the
front part of the vessel. It is a deck used for the storage of anchors and other equipment i.e.
winches and windlass.
8.3 Poopdeck
Poop decks are the superstructures that contain the cabin roof in the rear, or stern of a
vessel. It extends from the main deck by a few feet. This is also known as the stern deck on
sailing vessels.
9. Terms defining Directions
9.1 Ahead
A longitudinal direction towards the bow of the vessel.

9.2 Astern
A longitudinal direction toward the stern of a vessel.

9.3 Abeam
A perpendicular direction that is straight out from the middle of the vessel on either side

o When the object is midway between ahead and abeam it is said to be on bow
o When the object is midway between astern and abeam it is said to be on quarter
o The direction from one side of the ship to the other, at a right angle to the fore and
aft line ( port and starboard directing) explains a bit more
10. Terms related to the Ship

10.1 Breadth
Breadth onboard can be defined into two types:- Extreme Breadth & Moulded Breadth.

Extreme breadth

The maximum beam of the vessel is measured from the outside edge of the vessel plating
on either side of the ship.

Moulded breadth
Moulded Breadth is measured between the inside edge of the shell plating and hence it is
always less than Extreme Breadth.

10.2 Camber
The curvature of the deck in the athwartship direction (round of beam). Compare the
height of the deck at the center to the height of the deck at the side of the vessel.

10.3 Depths
Just like the breadth, the depth of the ship is also divided into two sections:- Moulded
Depth and Extreme Depth.

Extreme depths

Extreme depth is the distance from the bottom of the keel to the top of the deck beam.
(Measurement is taken at the side of the vessel.)

Moulded depth

The moulded depth is measured from the top side of the keel to the top of the deck beam of
a ship.

10.4 Sheer
Sheer is defined as a curvature of the deck in the longitudinal direction. (The height of the
deck at midship and height of the deck at extreme point are considered)

10.5 Flare
The outward curvature of shell plating at the foremost part of the vessel. It provides extra
breadth to the vessel and prevents water from coming onboard.

10.6 Tumblehome
Tumblehome is the narrowing curvature of the vessel above the waterline. The main
purpose of the tumblehome is to minimize the center of gravity of the vessel above the
waterline.

10.7 Rise of Floor (Deadrise)


The amount by which the line of the outer bottom plating amidship rises above the baseline
is called rise of floor.
11. Conclusion
In summary, understanding the terminology related to a vessel is like learning the language
of the sea. It empowers individuals to work confidently on a ship by facilitating effective
communication, enhancing navigation skills, promoting safety awareness, and ensuring a
thorough understanding of the ship’s structure and operations.

Disclaimer :- The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author and may
not necessarily reflect those of Merchant Navy Decoded. We cannot guarantee the accuracy
of the information provided and disclaim any responsibility for it. Data and visuals used are
sourced from publicly available information and may not be authenticated by any
regulatory body. Reviews and comments appearing on our blogs represent the opinions of
individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Merchant Navy Decoded. We are not
responsible for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on these reviews or comments.

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