10 STRUCTURAL MEMBERS OF A SHIP

The flat keel of a ship is the row at the bottom of the ship extending from the bow
to the stern along the centreline. Decks, corresponding to the floors of a house, are
flat
sections of steel plates. The deck constructed between three and four feet above the
shell
at the bottom is called the inner bottom or tank top plating, because between these
two
sections of steel plates are double bottom tanks used for carrying fuel oil, water
ballast
etc. The transverse vertical plates dividing these tanks into sections are
called floors.
Stringers are large beams or angles fitted in various parts of the vessel to give
added
strength. Depending upon their locations, stringers are known as bilge
stringers, side
stringers, hold stringers, etc.

Bulkheads are large partitions made of plates riveted or welded together and
stiffened with angle bars, tee bars, etc. Depending on the type of ship there
are
transverse, longitudinal and side bulkheads. They divide the ship into
compartments
fore-and-aft, or from port to starboard, and they may run between two or more
decks.

The stem is fastened to the forward end of the keel by a stem foot casting and
extends up to the top of the hull at the bow. The frames, which are the ribs of the
ship,
serve to give the ship its form and at the same time support and stiffen the shell
plating.
They are fastened at the bottom to the outer ends of the floors by brackets and at
the top
to the deck beams
The flat keel of a ship is the row at the bottom of the ship extending from
the bow
to the stern along the centreline. Decks, corresponding to the floors of a
house, are flat
sections of steel plates. The deck constructed between three and four feet
above the shell
at the bottom is called the inner bottom or tank top plating, because
between these two
sections of steel plates are double bottom tanks used for carrying fuel oil,
water ballast
etc. The transverse vertical plates dividing these tanks into sections
are called floors.
Stringers are large beams or angles fitted in various parts of the
vessel to give added
strength. Depending upon their locations, stringers are known as
bilge stringers, side
stringers, hold stringers, etc.

Bulkheads are large partitions made of plates riveted or welded

together and
stiffened with angle bars, tee bars, etc. Depending on the type of
ship there are
transverse, longitudinal and side bulkheads. They divide the ship into
compartments
fore-and-aft, or from port to starboard, and they may run between two or
more decks.

The stem is fastened to the forward end of the keel by a stem foot casting
and
extends up to the top of the hull at the bow. The frames, which are the
ribs of the ship,
serve to give the ship its form and at the same time support and stiffen the
shell plating.
They are fastened at the bottom to the outer ends of the floors by brackets
and at the top
to the deck beams
KEEL
At the centre line of the bottom structure is located the keel, which is often
said to form the backbone of the ship. This contributes substantially to the
longitudinal strength and effectively distributes local loading caused when
docking the ship. The commonest form of keel is that known as the ‘flat
plate’ keel, and this is fitted in the majority of ocean-going and other
vessels. A form of keel found on smaller vessels is the bar keel. The bar
keel may be fitted in trawlers, tugs, etc., and is also found in smaller
ferries.

PLATING

Thin pieces closing in the top, bottom, and sides of structure.

• Outer plating (side shell and bottom plating)

• Strakes = longitudinal rows of outer plating (e.g. garboard, sheer, deck

strakes) The shell plating forms the watertight skin of the ship and at the
same time, in merchant ship construction, contributes to the longitudinal
strength and resists vertical shear forces. Internal strengthening of the
shell plating may be both transverse and longitudinal and is designed to
prevent collapse of the plating under the various loads to which it is
subject.

FLOORS

The transverse vertical plates dividing these tanks into sections are called
floors. Vertical transverse plate floors are provided both where the bottom
is transversely and longitudinally framed. At the ends of bottom tank
spaces and under the main bulkheads, watertight or oil tight plate floors
are provided. ‘solid plate floors’ are fitted to strengthen the bottom
transversely and support the inner bottom. These run transversely from the
continuous center girder to the bilge, and manholes provided for access
through the tanks and lightening holes are cut in each solid plate floor. The
spacing of the solid plate floors varies according to the loads supported
and local stresses experienced. At intermediate frame spaces between the
solid plate floors, 'bracket floors’ are fitted. The bracket floor consists
simply of short transverse plate brackets fitted in way of the centre girder
and tank sides

Stringers

Are large beams or angles fitted in various parts of the vessel to give
added strength. Depending upon their locations, stringers are known as
bilge stringers, side stringers, hold stringers, etc

Bulkheads (longitudinal & transverse)

Bulkheads are large partitions made of plates riveted or welded together

and stiffened with angle bars, tee bars, etc. Depending on the type of ship
there are transverse, longitudinal and side bulkheads. They divide the ship
into compartments fore-and-aft, or from port to starboard, and they may
run between two or more decks

Frames

Girders which run transversely from keel to main deck. Used to

transversely stiffen the outer plating.

Bridge:

 The ship’s bridge is the commanding station of a ship. It controls the

ship movement through its navigational equipment.
 It controls important deck machinery, main engine and ship’s
navigation system.
 Functions that are usually performed on the ship bridge are: controls
the ship’s speed and direction (navigation), monitor weather and sea
conditions, navigating and fixing the position of the ship, and
facilitating internal as well as external communication

Accommodation:
 The accommodation area is the house for crews and lives. It has all
the amenities along with offices, gym, crew cabins, hospital, salon,
recreation room, common rooms, laundry and galley.
 It is a key part of the ship and consists of the garbage disposal
system, fresh water system, sewage treatment plant, refrigeration
system (domestic) and air conditioning for accommodation block.
 It is a necessary part of a ship, and facilitates space for relaxing,
medical facility and food courts.

Funnel Deck:

 Funnel releases exhaust gases into the atmosphere from engine

exhaust room of the ship. It has a similar function to chimneys in
factories.
 Nowadays extra care has been taken in discharging shoot from the
funnel to preserve the atmosphere from pollution.
 These funnels are never installed straight but inclined at a certain
angle toward the aft so that the flue gases will not cause hindrance to
the deck and navigation bridge of the ship

Boat Deck:

 Ship hull structure is covered by the deck floor. There can be multiple
decks or deck sections on a ship. The deck at the top which bears
maximum exposure to weather is referred to as the main deck or
weather deck.
 On the basis of the position of a ship’s deck, decks are of six main
types; main deck, poop deck, upper deck, lowers deck, weather deck
and foredeck.
 The boat deck’s main function is holding the hull structure and
providing floor to work, and standing and guard them against outside
weather.