Definitions and Meanings

Hull shapes
The hull is the watertight body of a ship. Above the hull is the superstructure
and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water
surface is called the waterline.
The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type. In a typical
modern steel ship, the structure consists of watertight and non-tight decks,
major transverse and watertight (and also sometimes non-tight or
longitudinal) members called bulkheads, intermediate members such as
girders, stringers and webs, and minor members called ordinary transverse
frames, frames, or longitudinals, depending on the structural arrangement.
The uppermost continuous deck may be called the "upper deck", "weather
deck", "spar deck", "main deck", or simply "deck". The particular name given
depends on the contextthe type of ship or boat, the arrangement, or even
where it sails.

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Passenger Liner

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General cargo ship

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Definitions

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 Definitions and Meanings
After Perpendicular (AP): A perpendicular drawn to the waterline at
the point where the after side of the rudder post meets the summer
load line. Where no rudder post is fitted it is taken as the center line
of the rudder stock.
Forward Perpendicular (FP): A perpendicular drawn to the waterline
at the point where the fore-side of the stem meets the summer load
line.
Length Between Perpendiculars (LBP): The length between the
forward and aft perpendiculars measured along the summer load
line.

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 Definitions and Meanings
Amidships: A point midway between the after and forward
perpendiculars.
Length Overall (LOA): Length of vessel taken over all extremities.
Lloyds Length: Used for obtaining scantlings if the vessel is classed
with Lloyds Register. It is the same as length between perpendiculars
except that it must not be less than 96% and need not be more than
97% of the extreme length on the summer load line. If the ship has an
unusual stem or stern arrangement the length is given special
consideration.

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 Definitions and Meanings
Registered Length: The length of ship measured from the fore-side of the
head of the stem to the aft side of the head of the stern post or, in the case
of a ship not having a stern post, to the fore-side of the rudder stock. If the
ship does not have a stern post or a rudder stock, the after terminal is
taken to the aftermost part of the transom or stern of the ship. This length
is the official length in the register of ships maintained by the flag state and
appears on official documents relating to ownership and other matters
concerning the business of the ship.
Another important length measurement is what might be referred to as the
IMO Length. This length is found in various international conventions such
as the Load Line, Tonnage, SOLAS and MARPOL conventions, and
determines the application of requirements of those conventions to a ship.
It is defined as 96% of the total length on a waterline at 85% of the least
moulded depth measured from the top of keel, or the length from the fore-
side of stem to the axis of rudder stock on that waterline, if that is greater.
In ships designed with a rake of keel the waterline on which this length is
measured is taken parallel to the design waterline.
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 Definitions and Meanings
Moulded dimensions are often referred to; these are taken to the
inside of plating on a metal ship.
Base Line: A horizontal line drawn at the top of the keel plate. All
vertical moulded dimensions are measured relative to this line.
Moulded Beam: Measured at the midship section, this is the
maximum moulded breadth of the ship.
Moulded Draft: Measured from the base line to the summer load line
at the midship section.
Moulded Depth: Measured from the base line to the heel of the
upper deck beam at the ships side amidships.

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 Definitions and Meanings
Extreme Beam: The maximum beam taken over all extremities.
Extreme Draft: Taken from the lowest point of keel to the summer
load line. Draft marks represent extreme drafts.
Extreme Depth: Depth of vessel at ships side from upper deck to
lowest point of keel.
Half Breadth: Since a ships hull is symmetrical about the longitudinal
centre line, often only the half beam or half breadth at any section is
given.

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 Definitions and Meanings
Freeboard: The vertical distance measured at the ships side between
the summer load line (or service draft) and the freeboard deck. The
freeboard deck is normally the uppermost complete deck exposed to
weather and sea that has permanent means of closing all openings,
and below which all openings in the ships side have watertight
closings.

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 Definitions and Meanings
Sheer: A rise in the height of the deck (curvature or in a straight line)
in the longitudinal direction. Measured as the height of deck at side
at any point above the height of deck at side amidships.
Camber (or Round of Beam): Curvature of decks in the transverse
direction. Measured as the height of deck at center above the height
of deck at side. Straight line camber is used on many large ships to
simplify construction.
Rise of Floor (or Deadrise): The rise of the bottom shell plating line
above the base line. This rise is measured at the line of molded beam.
Large cargo ships often have no rise of floor.

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 Definitions and Meanings
Half Siding of Keel: The horizontal flat portion of the bottom shell
measured to port or starboard of the ships longitudinal center line.
This is a useful dimension to know when drydocking.
Tumblehome: The inward curvature of the side shell above the
summer load line. This is unusual on modern ships.
Flare: The outward curvature of the side shell above the waterline. It
promotes dryness and is therefore associated with the fore end of
ship.

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 Definitions and Meanings
Stem Rake: Inclination of the stem line from the vertical.
Keel Rake: Inclination of the keel line from the horizontal. Trawlers
and tugs often have keels raked aft to give greater depth aft where
the propeller diameter is proportionately larger in this type of vessel.
Small craft occasionally have forward rake of keel to bring propellers
above the line of keel.
Tween Deck Height: Vertical distance between adjacent decks
measured from the tops of deck beams at ships side.

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 Definitions and Meanings
Parallel Middle Body: The length over which the midship section
remains constant in area and shape.
Entrance: The immersed body of the vessel forward of the parallel
middle body.
Run: The immersed body of the vessel aft of the parallel middle body.
Tonnage: This is often referred to when the size of the vessel is
discussed, and the gross tonnage is quoted from Lloyds Register.
Tonnage is a measure of the enclosed internal volume of the vessel
(originally computed as 100 cubic feet per ton). Gross tonnage is a
measure of the internal capacity of the ship and net tonnage is
intended to give an idea of the earning or useful capacity of the ship.
Various port dues and other charges may be assessed on the gross
and net tonnages.
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 Definitions and Meanings
Displacement is made up of lightweight plus deadweight. The
lightweight is the weight of vessel as built and ready for sea.
Deadweight is the difference between the lightweight and loaded
displacement, i.e. it is the weight of cargo plus weights of fuel, stores,
water ballast, fresh water, crew and passengers, and baggage.
bilge radius
the radius of the rounded portion of a vessel's shell that connects the
bottom to the sides.

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 Definitions and Meanings

1. Ship length is controlled normally by the space available at the

quayside.
2. Ship breadth is controlled by stability or canal width.
3. Ship depth is controlled by a combination of draft and freeboard.
4. Ship draft is controlled by the depth of water at the Ports where
the ship will be visiting. Exceptions to this are the ULCCs and the
Supertankers. They off-load their cargo at single point moorings
located at the approaches to Ports.

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 Length and Breadth

From a study of a large number of Merchant ships, it has been shown

that in modern ship design practice, the parameters L and B can be
linked as follows:
 Definitions and Meanings
The ratio of length and beam can differ quite darmaticly depending on
the type of vessel. Common values:
Passenger ships : 6-8
Freighters : 5-7
Tug boats : 3-5
A larger L/B value is favourable for speed but unfavaurable for
manoeuvrability.

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Definitions and Meanings

Thank You

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