THE MAIN PARTS OF A SHIP

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow

THE MAIN PARTS OF A SHIP

The main structure of a ship is the hull. Within the hull are ‘tween decks or platforms on which cargoes
rest. The uppermost platform or the upper deck covers holds in which cargo is stowed. It is loaded and
discharged either by cranes on the quay or by the ship’s derricks. Derricks are operated by winches. The
derricks are fitted to masts which stand on the upper deck. The cargo passes into or out of the holds
through cargo hatches.

At sea, the ship is controlled from the bridge by the captain and the navigating officers. The front part of a
ship is called the bow and the rear part is the stern near the bridge is the funnel. Smoke and gases pass
through the funnel from the engine. The engine is fitted near the bottom of the ship in the engine room. The
engine drives the propeller at the stern of the ship. The anchors, the cables and the windlass are located at
the bow of the ship.
The right side of a ship facing the bow is called the starboard side and the other side is the port side. The
beam is the greatest width of the ship. The draught is the depth of the ship’s bottom or keel below the
water surface.
The captain and the officers are accommodated in cabins. These are located in the middle part of the ship
near the bridge. The other members of the crew live in the cabins they are usually in the rear part of the
ship.

Write true or false

1. The upper deck covers the holds in which cargo is stowed. (______)
2. The greatest width of the ship is the draught. (______)
3. The captain’s cabin is in the middle part of the ship. (______)
4. At the bow of the ships are the anchors and cables. (______)

Ask questions to which the bolded worlds are the answers. The first one is done for you.
1. …The funnel is near the bridge. →Where is the funnel?
___________________________________________________________________________________
2. The engine is fitted near the bottom of the ship.
___________________________________________________________________________________

3. The anchors and the cables and the windlass are located in the bow of the ship.
___________________________________________________________________________________
4. The captain and the officers are accommodated in cabins in the middle part of the ship.
___________________________________________________________________________________
5. Cargo is stowed in holds.
___________________________________________________________________________________

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Fill in the gaps with a correct maritime
English term. Refer to diagram on the left.
1. The line leading forward to the shore
from the bow is called_____________.
2. The line leading aft from the stern to the
stern tug is called__________________.
3. The line leading forward to the bow tug
from the bow is called_____________.
4. The line leading at right angles to the
centre line from the forecastle to the
shore is called__________.
5. The wire leading aft from the forecastle
to the shore is called_____________.
6. The part of the vessel aft of the bridge
on the starboard side is called_______.
7. The forward part of the vessel on the
port side is called________________.
8. The wire leading forward from the port
quarter to the shore is called_________.
9. The line leading at right angles to the
centre line from the stern to the shore is
called____.
10. The line leading aft from the stern to the
shore is called____________________.

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Lesson two
Ship design and terminology
General design of a merchant, vessel Directions on a vessel and Movements of a vessel

Main Deck- The Main Deck is the uppermost deck that runs the entire length of a ship.

Superstructure- The Superstructure houses the crew accommodation, offices, stores etc.

Crane- The Crane is a machine for lifting heavy objects or cargo.

Scuppers- The Scuppers are drains from the decks to take out excess rainwater, condensation or seawater.

Ladder- The Ladder is a set of steps leading from one deck to another.

Fair-lead- Fairleads are openings in the ship's bulwark or hull to guide mooring lines and ropes. They are
specially strengthened and designed to prevent chafing of ropes.

Panama lead- Panama leads or Centre lead is the name for the Fairlead at the forward and aft ends of the
ship at the centerline.

Poop Deck- The Poop Deck is the deck situated at the aft of the ship.

Bitts and Bollard- Bitts are cylindrical shaped small posts (pillars) fixed on the ship or quay and are used
to tie the mooring lines.

Capstan- Capstans are drums or cylinders revolving in a vertical axis. They are mainly used onboard for
pulling ropes or mooring lines.

Forecastle (Foc'sle)- The Forecastle is the slightly raised structure at the forward part of the ship. It is a
mooring station used for housing windlass machinery and as a storeroom.

Windlass- The Windlass is the machinery for lifting and lowering the anchor cable.

Bulbous Bow- The Bulbous Bow is a protruding bow that is designed to break up the bow wave before it
reaches the ship.

Anchor- The Anchor is used to keep the ship fixed within a small area in the water. It gets its holding
power due to its weight and design plus the added weight of the cable it is attached to.

Bow Thruster- The Bow Thruster is a propeller at the bow of the ship used during manoeuvring to provide
transverse thrust.

Propeller- The Propeller is similar to a fan. Rotary motion of the propeller blades in the water provides the
force for the ship's movement.

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Rudder- The function of the Rudder is to steer the ship. The Rudder is usually located in the water flow aft
of the propeller.

Monkey Island- The Monkey Island is the uppermost deck on the superstructure upon which the mainmast
and various aerials are located.

Signal Whistle- The Signal Whistle is an instrument to produce a loud sound for alerts and warnings.

Radar Scanner- The Radar Scanner is an antenna that sends out and receives radar wave pulses.

Main Mast- The Main Mast is usually the highest portion of the ship. Scanners and navigational lights are
placed at various heights on the Main Mast.

Halyard-The Halyard are the ropes on the Main Mast for hoisting flags.

Mast Headlight-The Mast Headlight is a white navigational light on the mast.

Funnel- The Funnel is the large exhaust pipe for the ship's engine room and machinery fumes.

Bridge-The Bridge is the command centre of the ship. It is usually the highest enclosed portion within the
ship's superstructure.

Engine Room- The Engine Room is a space where the main and auxiliary engines are located.

Accommodation- The Accommodation consists of spaces onboard the ships which are set apart for
the crew.

Cabin- Cabins are the rooms or compartments for personnel use.

Porthole- Portholes are the windows in the cabins.

Alleyway- The Alleyway, or Passageway, is the name for the enclosed corridors in the accommodation
areas of the ship.

Galley-The Galley is the kitchen area used for food preparation.

Mess Room- The Mess Room is the place where the crew eats their meals.

Directions
Port- When you are on a ship looking forward towards the bow, the side of the ship on your left is called
Port.

Starboard- When you are on a ship looking forward towards the bow, the side of the ship on your right is
called Starboard.

Aft or Stern- The Aft, or Stern, is the rear end of the ship. Forward or Bow

The Forward or Bow is the front end of the ship.

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Midships- Midships is the area in the centre of the ship.

Port Bow-The forward part of the ship on the port side

Starboard Bow-The forward part of the ship on the starboard side

Port Quarter- The aft part of the ship, usually from the stern to the accommodation, on the port side

Starboard Quarter- The aft part of the ship, usually from the stern to the accommodation, on the
starboard side

Abeam- Abeam is the direction at right angles to the forward aft line of the ship, usually from the centre
of the ship.

Movements of the vessel

Ahead- Ahead is the forward movement of the ship.

Astern- Astern is the aft or reverse movement of the vessel.

Athwardships- Athwartships is the sideways movement of the ship. This movement plays an important
part in berthing and close interaction between ships.

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 The organizations of
ship’s crew

Master

Deck Department Engine Room Catering

Chief officer Department Department
Second officer Chief Engineer Chief steward
Third officer Second engineer
(fourth oficer) Third engineer
(Cadets) Fourth engineer
(Fifth engineer) Galley Sction
Boatswain  (electrical Ship’s cook
Carpenter officer)
(Cadets) Cooks
AB Storekeeper Junior Ratings 7

EDH Donkeyman
OS Pumpman (Tkrs)
Third Engineer
The Third Engineer is responsible for auxiliary engines and other electrical equipment. He also keeps the
Engine Room Watch from 12-4 morning and night and assists in the general maintenance of the Engine
Room.

Fourth Engineer
The Fourth Engineer is responsible for auxiliary machinery such as purifiers, pumps and related equipment.
He is responsible for daily bunker calculations. He usually keeps the 8-12 morning and evening Engine
Room Watch
Electrical Officer
The Electrical Officer is responsible for the maintenance of electrical equipment onboard the ship,
including radio, navigation and safety equipment.

Fitter
The Fitter assists in the general maintenance of the Engine Room. The various repair jobs including
welding and gas work are usually carried out by the Fitter.

Engine Ratings
Engine Ratings assist in general maintenance and cleaning and contribute to smooth operations in the
Engine Room.

Catering Department
On cargo ships, the Chief Cook and the Stewards form part of a Catering Department team with the
responsibility for food preparation and service and general accommodation area cleanliness. They work
under the guidance of the Master. On Passenger Ships the Catering Department will have more personnel
to meet the requirements of the passengers.

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
Since the down of history boats have been used in rivers, and ships have been used to go across seas and
oceans, to carry goods and people from one place to another.

The volume of cargo carried by ships continues to increase, and ships become larger and faster. The variety
of cargo is also widening. For this reason many ships are built for particular cargoes. Tankers carry
liquid cargo such as petroleum, and refrigerated cargo is carried in reefers. Other ships are Called bulk-
carries, carry certain cargo such as iron ore, grains or timber in bulk. Many vessels are built for certain
duties: tug for towing ships, dredgers for deepening the channels, and specialist craft such as gas careers ,
ice-breakers and floating cranes.

New types of ships include container vessels and Ro-Ro ships. Container vessels carry large cases, or
containers, of a variety of goods. They have a high service speed and can be loaded and discharged very
rapidly. ‘Ro-Ro’ ships have doors in their bows and sterns. These doors allow lorries, with cargo on them,
to be driven on and off. Another new type of ship is the Lash-ship. The word Lash stands for ‘lighter
aboard ship’. Lash-ship carries lighters or floating containers. Tankers known as VLCCs (very large
crude carriers) are designed to carry over 200, 000 tones ULCCs (ultra large crude carriers) can carry over
400, 000 tons of cargo. Although there is a wide variety of ships at present time, more new designs are
expected.
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Write true (T), or false (F)
1. Ships have been used only to cross seas. (____)
2. Because the volume of cargo has increased ships continue to become larger and faster. (____)
3. At present ships are built for special purposes. (____)
4. Bulk-carriers carry iron ore, grains and timber. (____)
5. Ships are towed by dredgers. (____)
6. Dredgers are used to deepen channels. (____)
7. Lash ships are specialist vessels. (____)

Read the passage and answer the question that follow.

What is a ship?
People have used rafts, boats and ships to travel across water for many thousand years. At its simplest, a
ship is any craft that travels on water, but ships have developed from simple log raft into vast oil tankes.
This developments has affected life on land, in shipbulding yards and at port where hundreds of people
work loading and unloading cargo. The difference between a ship and a boat is no very clear. Generally,
ships are larger and travel across seas and oceans. Boats are smaller and usuallly travel on rivers, lakes and
coastal waters.

Ships and boats come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes and have a wide range of uses from simple
rowboats to massive cruise liners. They do a wide range of jobs, in comerce, leasure, exploration and
combat.

Parts of a ship
The body of the boat is called hull. The backbone of the hull is the keel. The bow is sharply pointed to cut
easily through the water. A deck provide a watertight covering for the crew to work on. An engine-driven
propeller pushes the ship along. The rudder at the stern is used for steering.

Boats on inland waters

There are two common types of boats on river and canals. Rowboats has many uses –transport, fishing and
ferrying from ship to shore. It is usually propelled by oars, but it can be fitted with sails or an outboard
motor. Flat- bottomed canal boat which is used for transporting cargo.
Adapted from Oxlade, C.

1. How long have the humanity been using ships for travelling?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Why is the difference between a ship and a boat not clear cut?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. Name the areas where these watercraft are employed.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Name the parts of the ship mentioned in the passage.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. How is a rowboat propelled?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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6. Name the two types of boats mentioned in the passage.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

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 Types of merchant ships and cargo they carry.

Writing
Using the diagram above write a description describing the types of merchant ships and cargo
they carry.
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