QUESTION:

Distinguish the parts of the ship according to its uses.

Rudder:

• Without steering, we can’t move a vehicle in the desired direction, so the propeller propels
the ship, and the rudder steers the ship. The rudder is a flat hollow structure housed in the aft
of the propeller.

• It consists of the following parts: rudder trunk, moveable flap, main rudder blade, hinge
system, links and rudder carrier bearing. Rudders are of three types: balanced type, semi-
balanced type and unbalanced type rudder.

• As a vital part of the ship, the rudder is provided with a steering gear system that controls the
rudder’s movement. It works on Newton’s Third Law of motion.

Propeller:

• It is a mechanical device having blades fitted on a central shaft. These blades rotate, and their
rotational energy is converted into pressure energy, and due to this, the propeller produces the
thrust required for propulsion. It pushes the seawater backwards, and, in turn, the seawater
helps the ship move forward.

• Engine, shaft and propeller together constitute propulsion unit. The propeller should be made
up of aluminium, bronze, manganese etc., which are excellent corrosion resistant alloys. There
can be one, two or three propellers.

• It is the most important part of the ship without which a ship can’t move. So, the main
function of the propeller is to propel the ship in the forward direction by producing thrust on
water. Its working principles are Newton’s third law of motion and Bernoulli’s theorem.

Accommodation:

• The accommodation area is the house for crews and lives. It has all the amenities, including
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, freshwater system,
sewage treatment plant, refrigeration system (domestic) and air conditioning for the
accommodation block.
• It is a necessary part of a ship and facilitates space for relaxing, medical facility and food
courts.

Funnel:

• A Funnel or Stacks is a chimney on a vessel used to discharge engine and boiler smoke.

• Lifting of the exhaust gasses, clear from the deck, is the constitutional purpose of the Funnel.

Mast:

• The mast is a rangy spar arrangement that is elevated more or less vertically to the Centreline
of a ship.

• It has several purposes, including carrying derricks and giving fundamental height to the
navigation light, salient yards, radio or radar aerials, and scanners.

Forecastle:

• The forecastle is one of the foremost parts of the ship of length less than 7% of the total deck
length.

• It was initially used in military vessels, in which the soldiers used forecastles to take defensive
positions.

• But, today, forecastle serves many functions such as holding, anchoring and securing the
major parts of the ship.

Side Thrusters:

• These are somewhat like a propeller and fitted on either side of the bow of the ship.

• It helps in manoeuvring ships at a slow speed in congested waters near ports or canals. These
are also referred to as tunnel thrusters.

• Side thrusters influence the total running cost of a ship to a greater extent. These are either
hydraulically or electrically powered.

Anchor:

• At its most basic level, an anchor is a device to keep a vessel in one place. To keep a vessel in
one place, anchors are used to combat wind and currents that want to move the vessel off
course.

Bow/Bulbous bow:

• A bulbous bow is a protruding bulb at the bow (or front) of a ship just below the waterline.
The bulb modifies the way the water flows around the hull, reducing drag and thus increasing
speed, range, fuel efficiency, and stability. The waterline length is longer than about 15 metres
(49 ft).

Deck:

• A deck is a permanent covering over a compartment or a hull of a ship. On a boat or ship, the
primary or upper deck is the horizontal structure that forms the "roof" of the hull,
strengthening it and serving as the primary working surface. Vessels often have more than one
level both within the hull and in the superstructure above the primary deck, similar to the floors
of a multi-storey building, that are also referred to as decks, as are certain compartments and
decks built over specific areas of the superstructure. Decks for some purposes have specific
names.

Ships Hull:

• The hull of a ship is the most notable structural entity of the ship. To define the hull, it can be
said that it is the watertight enclosure of the ship, which protects the cargo, machinery, and
accommodation spaces of the ship from the weather, flooding, and structural damage.

Keel:

The keel is basically a flat blade sticking down into the water from a sailboat's bottom. It has
two functions: it prevents the boat from being blown sideways by the wind, and it holds the
ballast that keeps the boat right-side up.

Freeboard:

• Freeboard is the distance measured from the waterline to the upper edge of the deck plating
at side of the freeboard deck amidships. ... Regulations are also included for freeing ports in
bulwark to prevent water accumulating on deck, as well as guard rails and walkways to provide
safe passage.
Engine Room:

• The engine room is usually located near the bottom, at the rear or aft end of the vessel, and
comprises few compartments. This design maximizes the cargo carrying capacity of the vessel
and situates the prime mover close to the propeller, minimizing equipment cost and problems
posed from long shaft lines.

Navigation Brigde:

• The bridge is the main control centre of a vessel, from where the captain and officers are able
to man the entire operations of the vessel. It is generally located in a position with an
unrestricted view and immediate access to the essential areas of a ship.

Deck Crane:

• The deck crane, necessary machinery on the ship’s deck, does not only belong to navigating
officer’s worksheet. The ship’s marine engineer has to ensure that all the hydraulics and
electronic components of the crane are working efficiently and incoordination. The maintenance
and smooth operation of the ship’s cargo crane require the teamwork of seafarers onboard the
vessel.