Ship Construction

Framing Systems
Double Bottom Construction
Stem & Stern Construction

Transverse Framing:

Many, closelyspaced Frames

Deck Beams tie

upper ends of
frames
Fewer, deeper &
more widely
spaced
Longitudinals
Support Inner
Bottom & give
longitudinal
strength

Longitudinals
supporting Decks are called
(Deck) Girders

Additional Decks (supported by

Beams & Girders) increase
Transverse & Longitudinal strength

Transverse Bulkheads provide watertight boundaries, contribute significantly to

transverse strength, and provide vertical support for Decks

Transverse Framing:

Many, closelyspaced Frames

Advantages
Open, nearly rectangular interior space
Ideal for stowing large, irregular, break-bulk
items, or
Vehicles (Ro-Ros)
Disadvantages

Vertical support for decks requires more

closely spaced transverse bulkheads (hence
smaller compartments) or
Pillars (stanchions) or
Longitudinal bulkheads

Longitudinal Framing:

Deep (Web)
Transverse Frames
Few & widely

spaced
Smaller,
closelyspaced
Longitudnals support
shell plating
Side shell
longitudinals
call stringers
Inner Bottom gives

additional longitudinal &

transverse strength
Girders in high-stress areas:

Double bottom spaces and

Under main deck

Longitudinal Framing:

Deep (Web)
Transverse Frames

Advantages

Widely spaced transverse bulkheads allow for

large (i.e., long) continuous cargo spaces
(tanks)
Ideal for stowing liquids (reduced free surface
effects)

Disadvantages

No large, open interior spaces

Difficult to load or unload break-bulk items
Difficult to stow large, irregular shaped items

Framing Systems:
Typically, most ships have some combination

of transverse & longitudinal framing

L

TTTTT

UPPER TWEEN DECK

(LOWER) HOLD

SECTION
VIEW

FLOOR

C
L

Bulkhead STIFFENERS

TTTTTTTTTTTT

LOWER TWEEN DECK

Stringer

Web Frame
Typical
Transverse
Frames

PLAN VIEW

C
L

Double Bottom details:

Inner Bottom
(Tank Top)

Rider
Plate

Airhole

Margin
Plate
Frame

Center
Vertical Keel
Keel
Plate

Outer
Bottom

Longitudinal

Bilge

SOLID FLOOR

Lightening
hole

Reverse Frame

Frame

Longitudinal

Limber
hole

Bilge
well

OPEN FLOOR

Strut

Shell Plating details:

(Longitudinal) Rows of plating are called strakes
The Keel Plates form the Keel strake
The strakes outboard (P&S) of the Keel are the A Strakes

or Garboard Strakes
Strakes are consecutively lettered moving outboard and up
the side shell
G
Strake

B
Strake
Keel
Strake

Garboard Strake
(A strake)

C
Strake

D
Strake

E
Strake

F Strake
(Bilge Strake)

Shell Plating details:

(Longitudinal) Rows of plating are called strakes
Welded horizontal joints between strakes are called seams
Welded vertical joints between plates in a given strake are

called butts
Strakes that do not run the entire ship length (as the hull
surface area decreases at the ends) are drop strakes
K Strake
J Strake

Sheer Strake
Through
H Strake

drop

G Strake
Bilge (F) Strake

Strakes running stem to stern are called through strakes

An oversized plate merging a drop & through strake is a

stealer plate
The strake at the deck edge is the sheer strake and is
heavier than typical side shell plating

Openings in shell plating must:

*have rounded corners
*be reinforced to make up for missing material
and on weather deck -- COAMINGS

portholes

Hatch openings
below decks

Watertight doors

Stem Construction
Wrapper
Plate Stem

Decks

Forward
Collision
Bulkhead

Wrapper
Plate Stem

Stringers

Vertical
Stem Post
Rider Plate
Deep
Floors

C.V. Keel
Keel Plate

Breast
Hooks

Stern Construction
After
Collision
Bulkhead

Stern
Frame
Steering Gear Room

Rudder
Stock

Deck
Machy
Rm

Cant
Frames

Rope
Locker

After
Peak

Lug

Stern
Tube

Tank
Rudder
Post
Propeller
Post

Stern
Frame

UNBALANCED
RUDDER

Pintle
Gudgeon

SEMI-BALANCED RUDDER