HULL STRUCTURE

1. Plate keel - a ship's keel made of a flat plate or plates.

2. Center girder - In lieu of longitudinal, provide longitudinal strength.
3. Center line - A horizontal fore- and -aft reference line for athwart ship measurements,
dividing the ship into two symmetrical halves. A vertical reference line in the center of
the body plan, midship section or other sections.
4. Side girder - a girder on the side of the ships hull.
5. Horizontal margin plate - a fore and aft horizontal plate sited at the turn of the bilge.
The upper edge is normally flanged to allow connection to the tank top plating, while the
opposite end is secured to the inside of the shell plate by an angle-bar connection. It
provides an end seal to the double bottom tanks, having all the floors joining at right
angles, up to the collision bulkhead.
6. Inner bottom - plating forming the upper surface of the double bottom. Also called
tank top.
7. Bottom plating - That part of the shell plating which is below the water line.
8. Floor- Vertical transverse full-breadth plating between inner bottom and bottom shell
plating.
9. Manhole - A framed opening in the deck of a vessel which primarily provides access
for a man.
10. Reverse frame - An angle bar placed with its heel against another angle additional
strength. The flanges of deck stiffeners always bace outboard.
11. Main frame - steel frames that supports the hull and give the ship its shape and
strength.
12. Bilge strake - Line of shell plating at the bilge between bottom and side plating.
13. Sheer strake - The uppermost strake (line) of side shell plating immediately adjacent
to the strength deck
14. Side plating - Vertical plating from upper turn of bilge to weather deck.
15. Upper deck- A partial deck above the main deck amidships
16. Bilge keel - Non-retractable elongated longitudinal fin protruding from the bilge used
to reduce rolling.
17. Bulwark plating - the light plating that projects above the hull plating of a ship and
serves as a bulwark.
18. Frames - These are vertical members that make up the framing of the vertical part of
the hull. Frame type and spacing vary considerably depending on the ship's construction.
19. Tank side bracket - resists the racking and water pressure in a ship.
20. Beam bracket - a riveted or welded steel plate connecting a ships beam to its frame.
21. Deck beams - These are transverse members that connect the top ends of the frames,
forming the transverse framing for the deck.
22. Shelter deck - A term applied to a deck fitted from stem to stern ona relatively light
superstructure. The main deck
23. Horizontal stiffener - used to stiffen plating of a bulkhead or other member.

24. Gunwale - The junction of the deck and shell at the top of sheer strake.
25. Bulwark stay - A brace extending from the deck to a point near the top of the
bulwark, to keep it rigid
26. Hand rail - A steadying rail of a ladder (banister).
27. Hatch side coaming - is any vertical surface on a ship design to deflect or prevent
entry of water.