Ship Construction Definitions
Ship Construction Definitions
Definitions:
Camber: The purpose of rounding the beam is to ensure a good drainage of the water and also to
strengthen the upper deck and the upper flange of the ship girder against longitudinal bending
stresses- especially the compression stresses.
Rise Of Floor: This is the distance from the line of floor to the horizontal, measured at the ship
side. Purpose basically is to allow drainage of the double bottom water/ oil to the centre line
suctions.
Tumblehome: This is the inward slope of the side plating from the water line to the upper deck
today ships generally do not have a tumblehome.
Flare: This is the curvature of the side plating at the forward and gives additional buoyancy and
thus helps to prevent the bows from diving too deeply into the water when pitching.
The anchors are also clear when lowered from the flare of a ship.
Sheer: This is the rise of ships deck fore and aft. This again adds buoyancy to the ends where it
is needed during pitching. For calculating the freeboard a correction is applied for the sheer. In
modern ship the after sheer has been greatly reduced.
Rake: This is the slope, which the forward end has with between the bottom plating and the
upper deck. The length between perpendiculars and the length overall difference is mostly due to
the rake forward. It helps to cut the water and thus adds to the ships form.
Parallel Middle Body: This is the part of the main body of the ship and it is a box like structure
enabling maximum cargo carrying capacity. It also helps in the pushing when tugs are used to
assist the vessel in berthing. Cargo stowage is also greatly facilitated.
2
Entrance: This part is the fore end of the ship and helps give the box like mid length a ship
shaped structure.
Described as the forward underwater portion of the vessel at or near the bow.
The angle formed between the centerline of the ship and the tangent to the designed water line
Is called the angle of entrance.
Run: The after part similarly to the fore part entrance helps in giving the box like mid length a
ship shaped structure and thus the handling of the vessel is enhanced.
Length means 96 per cent of the total length on a waterline at 85 per cent of the least moulded
depth measured from the top of the keel, or the length from the fore side of the stem to the axis
of the rudder stock on that waterline, if that be greater. In ships designed with a rake of keel the
waterline on which this length is measured shall be parallel to the designed waterline.
line, which acts as the datum, or base line, for all hydrostatic calculations. This line may, or may
not, be parallel to the load water line depending on the type of ship.
Moulded depth: This is the vertical distance between the moulded base line and the top of the
beams of the uppermost continuous deck measured at the side amidships.
Moulded beam: This is the maximum beam, or breadth, of the ship measured inside the inner
shell strakes of plating, and usually occurs amidships.
Moulded draught: This is the draught measured to any water-line, either forward or aft, using
the moulded base line as a datum.
Extreme beam: This is the maximum breadth including all side plating, permanent fenders etc.
Extreme draught: This is obtained by adding to the draught moulded the distance between the
moulded base line and a line touching the lowest point of the underside of the keel. This line is
continued to the FP and AP, where it is used as the datum for the sets of draught marks.
Longitudinal, transverse and combined systems of framing on transverse sections of the
ships
Load Deadweight
The total weight of cargo, stores, bunkers etc. when the vessel is at her loaded draught (summer
load line). It is equivalent to the difference between her load displacement and her light
displacement
Collision Bulkhead: A heavy duty bulkhead in the forepart of the vessel to withstand
damage after impact from collision.
Floor: A vertical athwartships member in way of the double bottom. A floor will run from the
centre girder out to the margin plate on either side of the vessel. Floors may be in steel plate,
solid or framed bracket form.
Frame: Internal support member for the shell plating . Vessels may be framed transversely or
longitudinally.
Garboard Strake: The first strake out from the keel.
Gusset Plate: Triangular plate often used for joining angle bar to a plate.
Intercostal: A side girder in the fore and aft line sited either side of the keel. Integral connection
with the tank top and the ships bottom plating and rigidly connected by the floors.
Duct Keel: The duct keel is a plated box/tunnelled keel allowing passage right forward. It
provides additional buoyancy, together with a through passageway for cables and pipelines
running in the fore and aft direction.
Lightening Holes: Holes cut into floors, or intercostals to reduce the weight content of the ships
build and to provide access to tank areas.
Longitudinal: A fore and aft strength member connecting the athwartships floors. Some vessels
are longitudinally strengthened by having the frames run in a fore and aft direction as opposed to
transverse framing. Additional longitudinals are to be found in areas where pounding can
5
Decks: Resist hogging and sagging, shearing, bending, heavy weights, and water pressure.
Floors: Resist water pressure, drydocking stresses, heavy weights, local stresses, racking,
vibration and pounding.
Frames: Resist water pressure, panting, drydocking and racking stresses. May be compared to
the ribs of the body, which stiffen the body of the vessel. May be longitudinally or transversely
constructed.
Longitudinal Girders: Resist hogging and sagging, water pressure, drydocking and pounding
stresses, and localised shearing stresses. Examples: keel, keelsons, fore and aft members,
intercostals.
Pillars: Resist stresses caused by heavy weights, racking, dry docking and ; water pressure.
Extensively found in general cargo vessels in lower hold structure.
HOGGING: The length of the vessel may be considered to act like a long girder
pivoted on a wave about its centre. In this position the fore and after ends of the vessel will bend
downwards, causing compression forces in the keel area and tension forces at the upper deck
level .
The condition is brought about by increased buoyancy forces being created at and around the
midships point of the vessel. Increased gravitational force, due to the metal structure of the
vessel acting vertically downward, occurs at the extremities of the ship. When both forces exist
6
at the same time, e.g. as the vessel is pivoted by a wave midships, a hogging conditionis
present.
This can be accentuated in a vessel of an all-aft design, where the additional weight of the
machinery space would produce high loading in the aft part of the vessel. The condition may also
be unnecessarily increased by bad cargo loading in the fore and after parts of the vessel,
leaving the midships area comparatively lightly loaded.
SAGGING : Sagging is the direct opposite of hogging. When a vessel is supported at bow and
stern by wave crests, she will tend to sag in the middle. High buoyancy forces occur at the
extremities of the ship. High gravitational forces, from the weight of the ships structure, act
vertically down about the midships point, in opposition to the buoyancy forces. In comparison
with the condition of hogging, the vessel has a tendency to bend in the opposite direction .
Incorrect loading of the vessel or design characteristics may accentuate the condition of sagging.
Watch keeping officers should be aware of the frequency of the waves and the likelihood of this
condition developing and, if necessary, take action to relieve any sagging or hogging conditions
by altering the ships course.
Due consideration at the time of loading, with regard to weight distribution may alleviate either
hogging or sagging. With shipbuilding producing larger and longer ships either condition is most
undesirable, as the prospect of breaking the ships back in a heavy seaway or swell becomes a
frightening reality. Prudent ballast arrangements, together with increased scantlings at the time of
building, coupled with efficient ship and cargo loading, will help minimise any structural damage
at a later stage due to hogging or sagging.
Duct keel
10
11
12
13
The limber boards were removable for cleaning as they were frequently damaged (edges) leaving
gaps through which cargo residue would accumulate.
Modern ships do not have the side bilges and have only a strum box at the after end of the holds
and these are connected in the similar way to pipelines, which run through the DBs.
15
16
17
Panting arrangements are to extend 0.15L from forward and abaft the after peak bulkhead.
Tiers of beams spaced not more than 2000mm apart vertically are to be fitted at alternate frames
in the fore peak or below the lower deck above the water line if the forepeak is small.
Alternatively perforated flats may be fitted in lieu of panting beams 2.5m apart vertically.
Tiers of beams are to be supported at the centreline by a partial wash bulkhead or pillars. Beams
are to be bracketed to frames and the frames to which no beams are attached are to be bracketed
to the stringer. Stringer plates attached to the shell are to be fitted at each tier of beams.
Abaft the collision bulkhead intercostals side stringers having the same depth as the frames are to
be fitted in line with those forward of the collision bulkhead and are to extend aft for 0.15L from
the fore end. Stringers may be omitted if the shell plating is of increased thickness.
Abaft the after peak bulkhead the structure is to be efficiently stiffened by deep floors and tiers
of beams in association with stringers spaced 2500mm apart vertically.
18
Stern Frame
Stern frames may be cast/ forged or fabricated from steel plate. In the case of cast or forged steel
frames they may be in one piece or in two or more sections riveted or welded together (thermit
welding).
Where a riveted connection is used the two sections of the bar are scarphed together and the class
rules for the scarph are 3D and the depth as one and one third D, where D is the depth of the bar
used in the construction of the frame.
19
A scarph fitted in a rudder post should not be above the highest gudgeon.
Cast steel and fabricated stern frames are to be strengthened at intervals by transverse webs. All
stern frames are to be efficiently attached to the adjoining structure and the lower part of the
stern frame is to be extended forward to provide an efficient connection to the flat plate keel.
With larger stern frames there is a tendency for the whole stern or propeller post and adjacent
sections to be fabricated.
Fittings
Mechanical Hatch covers
The figures shown below illustrate the various parts of a mechanical hatch cover. These hatch
covers may be made up of several individual pontoons (so named because prior to the
MacGregor type of rolling hatch covers the pontoons had to be individually lifted and battened
down).
20
The pontoons (individual parts of the hatch covers) are connected to one another and can easily
and quickly be rolled into or out of position leaving clear hatchways and decks. The normal
practice for the lengthwise opening of hatches but sideways opening hatchways are found on
large bulk carriers and OBOs.
The smaller versions are mainly operated either manually (using wire and winch) or electrically.
The larger ones are nearly all operated hydraulically.
The wheels on the side on which the pontoons rollere are eccentric in their construction thus
when in the battened (lowered) position the clearance between the wheel and the trackway is
minimum and the pontoon sits on the trackway, the rubber gaskets being compressed by the
compression bar.
21
The cross wedges are used to ensure the pontoon rubber gaskets compress against the
compression bars of the forward pontoons.
The side cleats ensure that the pontoons stay compressed to the trackway compression bar and
the ship motion is effectively compensated or removed.
These hatch cover systems consist of various parts:
The pontoons, eccentric wheels, trackway wheels, cross wedges, and the side cleats.
The Channels are to be swept prior battening so that the packing do not rest on dirt.
The drain channel on the front of the hatch pontoons are to be cleaned prior closing the hatch.
Once the wheels are turned the next item to be engaged are the cross wedges and the side cleats
are to be fitted last.
23
Prior proceeding to sea (long voyage) the hatch cover sealing should be tested with chalk marks
made on all the compression bars on the hatch coaming as well as on the pontoons. The hatch
is to be battened and then opened to see if all the rubber gaskets have got chalk mark on them or
not if not hen rectification to be done.
Manhole covers do not vary much in design, their shape however are sometimes different for
different places.
When fitted outside a tank they may be either circular or elliptical. But when fitted inside they
are almost always elliptical to facilitate their removal.
Usual size openings vary between 450mm to about 600mm.
A roller is to be found on the forward and after stations area generally at the leads to the
mooring ropes as well as on top of old man pedestals.
These facilitate the hauling of ropes since they reduce the friction when the rope is hauled
through a panama fairlead which has no rollers.
A panama fairlead is o named since they were mostly used in the Panama Canal. The ship is
hauled by small locomotives and the wires are sent out through these leads they are of adequate
strength to prevent the metal being cut open by the wires.
25
A multi angle fairlead again is a fairlead used due necessity when in the great Lakes. The ship
moves through numerous locks as the ship is made to climb a great height the Welland Canal
system itself uses about 13 lock gates to cross the Niagara falls. The movement of the ship being
fast and the difference in height being enormous the ship steadies itself with 2 wires forward and
2 wires aft, when in the locks. These wires are passed through the multi angle fairleads to reduce
the enormous friction generated.
Mooring bitts are prefabricated and then are welded onto the deck. The size of the bitts are
dependent on their use. Thus a small set may be fitted next to an occasional winch while the
larger ones are fitted at the mooring stations.
The bitts are hollow and as such require care to ensure that the sides do not corroded and holed.
A typical forecastle mooring and anchoring arrangement, showing the leads of moorings
26
Securing anchors and making spurling pipes watertight in preparation for a sea passage
Once the anchor has been washed the anchor is hove right up into the hawse pipe, the bow
stopper is lowered and the locking pin inserted.
The winch is reversed a little to make the chain sit properly into the slot of the bow stopper and
then the brake is tightened and the windlass gear removed.
The anchor chain at the deck level (hawse pipe) is lashed with extra lashings as provided by the
shipyard, if none are present or if expecting heavy weather, then extra wire rope lashings are
taken, The wire rope to be used should be tested one, if an old (good condition) life boat falls are
available then this makes a very good extra lashing wire. This wire is flexible and can be used by
hand. A number of turns (figure of eight) are taken around two sets of bitts. The free ends being
fastened by bull dog clips at least two fixed in opposite directions.
Generally the shipyard would have provide lashing point as well as short length of wire attached
to a bottle screw. These should be well oiled and are the most efficient for lashing the anchor.
The wire should be tight.
Once the anchor is lashed the hawse pipe covers are not placed but stowed under deck or in their
stowage positions.
The spurling pipe area is chipped to remove any residual remains of earlier cement.
The metal spurling pipe covers are placed around the chain and over the spurling pile. The clips
provided at the edges of the covers should be hooked to the lips of the spurling pipe.
A new canvas cover is then placed over the metal covers just fitted and is tied around the lips of
the spurling pipe as well as the chain. No empty spaces should be found.
27
Cement mixture is prepared and the entire cover is covered with this mixture.
Cable stopper: A chain stopper as shown below may be of various designs, but all serve the
same purpose to hold the cable.
The cable is passed through the stopper with the holding bar lifted up by the counterweight
on top. There is a pin to hold the bar in this position.
Once the decision has been taken to hold the cable, the safety locking pin is removed and the bar
is eased down on top of the cable. Note that the default position of the holding bar is to arrest the
cable, only a effort is required to keep it up.
Once the bar is placed over the cable the cable may have to be adjusted a little to ensure that the
flat part of the cable falls in the holding area and not the vertical section, the safety locking pin is
now introduced to prevent the bar from jumping u[ in case the cable slip from the brake.
Once the lacking pin is in position the brake can be released and the stopper would do the work
of holding the cable.
28
29
30
The strum box fitted in the holds is to be kept clean and the perforations are to be checked that
they are not closed due to muck and rust.
Same with the mud boxes in the ER fitted into the system.
31
The number and position of hydrants shall be such that at least two jets of water not emanating
from the same hydrant, one of which shall be from a single length of hose, may reach any part of
the ship normally accessible to the passengers or crew while the ship is being navigated and any
part of any cargo space when empty, any ro-ro cargo space or any special category space in
which latter case the two jets shall reach any part of such space, each from a single length of
hose. Furthermore, such hydrants shall be positioned near the accesses to the protected spaces.
Pipes and hydrants
Mainly galvanised steel pipes are used and during repairs no doublers or such part renewals are
allowed change is flange to flange renewal.
The arrangement of pipes and hydrants are to be such as to avoid the possibility of freezing.
On cargo ships where deck cargo may be carried, the positions of the hydrants are to be such that
they are always readily accessible and the pipes are to be arranged, as far as practicable, to avoid
risk of damage by such cargo.
A valve is to be fitted at each fire hydrant so that any fire-hose may be removed while the fire
pump is at work.
The above figure shows a typical fire mains line. Note that the emergency fire pump is located
away from the machinery space as per rules.
Isolation valves are provided so that any system being damaged the other system may be used for
example the port system and the starboard system.
33
In the machinery space a separate pump (Fire and GS pump) is also coupled, this is generally
used when washing decks, and as an emergency measure while the fire pump is being
overhauled.
Sounding pipes
Sounding pipes covers come with varied designs. That shown below is a sunken cap type
generally the cap is made of brass. The justification being that of the two thread and cap
assembly the thread of the brass is to wear out first and that of the deck pad. The renewal of the
brass cap being inexpensive and convenient rather than the deck pad which entails hot work.
The metal cap (not sunken) type of covers have a chain attached to them to prevent their being
washed overboard.
34
35
In the figure above the containers on deck are loaded on top of shoes which are welded on top of
the deck as well on top of the hatch covers.
Twistlocks are fitted on the shoes and the containers placed on the twistlocks. Hinged eyes are
welded on deck to secure the container rod lashings.
36
Freeboard. The freeboard assigned is the distance measured vertically downwards amidships
from the upper edge of the deck line to the upper edge of the related load line.
Freeboard deck. The freeboard deck is normally the uppermost complete deck exposed to
weather and sea, which has permanent means of closing all openings in the weather part thereof,
and below which all the openings in the sides of the ship are fitted with permanent means of
watertight closing. In a ship having a discontinuous freeboard deck, the lowest line of the
exposed deck and the continuation of that line parallel to the upper part of the deck is taken as
the freeboard deck. At the option of the owner and subject to the approval of the Administration,
a lower deck may be designated as the freeboard deck, provided it is a complete and permanent
deck continuous in a fore and aft direction at least between the machinery space and peak
bulkheads and continuous athwartships. When this lower deck is stepped the lowest line of the
deck and the continuation of that line parallel to the upper part of the deck is taken as the
freeboard deck. When a lower deck is designated as the freeboard deck, that part of the hull
which extends above the freeboard deck is treated as a superstructure so far as concerns the
application of the conditions of assignment and the calculation of freeboard. It is from this deck
that the freeboard is calculated.
Load Line Mark: The Load Line Mark shall consist of a ring 300 millimetres in outside
diameter and 25 millimetres wide which is intersected by a horizontal line 450
millimetres in length and 25 millimetres in breadth, the upper edge of which
passes through the centre of the ring. The centre of the ring shall be placed
amidships and at a distance equal to the assigned summer freeboard measured
vertically below the upper edge of the deck line.
The Load line rules which were brought in were due to the fact that the ships were being loaded
in such a way that the ships were foundering.
Thus the important fact to remember is that it was the freeboard that was being restricted, from
very low to a safe figure.
Depending on this freeboard the load line circle was marked as well as the other marks were
made for different zones and densities.
Thus the chapter on CONDITIONS OF ASSIGNMENT OF FREEBOARD is very important as it
determines as to how much would be the distance between the deck line and the load line circle.
Once this is determined the load line marks are painted, keeping the above in reference.
The calculations give rise to the assigned summer freeboard.
Lines to be used with the Load Line Mark
The lines which indicate the load line assigned in accordance with these Regulations shall be
horizontal lines 230 millimetres in length and 25 millimetres in breadth which extend forward of,
unless expressly provided otherwise, and at right angles to, a vertical line 25 millimetres in
breadth marked at a distance 540 millimetres forward of the centre of the ring.
37
(a) The Summer Load Line indicated by the upper edge of the line which passes through the
centre of the ring and also by a line marked S.
(b) The Winter Load Line indicated by the upper edge of a line marked W.
(c) The Winter North Atlantic Load Line indicated by the upper edge of a line marked WNA.
(d) The Tropical Load Line indicated by the upper edge of a line marked T.
(e) The Fresh Water Load Line in summer indicated by the upper edge of a line marked F. The
Fresh Water Load Line in summer is marked abaft the vertical line. The difference between the
Fresh Water Load Line in summer and the Summer Load Line is the allowance to be made for
loading in fresh water at the other load lines.
(f) The Tropical Fresh Water Load Line indicated by the upper edge of a line marked TF, and
marked abaft the vertical line.
If timber freeboards are assigned in accordance with these Regulations, the timber load lines
shall be marked in addition to ordinary load lines. These lines shall be horizontal lines 230
millimetres in length and 25 millimetres in breadth which extend abaft unless expressly provided
otherwise, and are at right angles to, a vertical line 25 millimetres in breadth marked at a distance
540 millimetres abaft the centre of the ring.
The following timber load lines shall be used:
38
(a) The Summer Timber Load Line indicated by the upper edge of a line marked LS.
(b) The Winter Timber Load Line indicated by the upper edge of a line marked LW.
(c) The Winter North Atlantic Timber Load Line indicated by the upper edge of a line marked
LWNA
(d) The Tropical Timber Load Line indicated by the upper edge of a line marked LT.
(e) The Fresh Water Timber Load Line in summer indicated by the upper edge of a line marked
LF and marked forward of the vertical line.
The difference between the Fresh Water Timber Load Line in summer and the Summer Timber
Load Line is the allowance to be made for loading in fresh water at the other timber load lines.
(f) The Tropical Fresh Water Timber Load Line indicated by the upper edge of a line marked LTF
and marked forward of the vertical line.
Where the characteristics of a ship or the nature of the ships service or navigational limits make
any of the seasonal lines inapplicable, these lines may be omitted.
Where a ship is assigned a greater than minimum freeboard so that the load line is marked at a
position corresponding to, or lower than, the lowest seasonal load line assigned at minimum
freeboard in accordance with the present Convention, only the Fresh Water Load Line need be
marked.
On sailing ships only the Fresh Water Load Line and the Winter North Atlantic Load Line need
be marked.
Where a Winter North Atlantic Load Line is identical with the Winter Load Line corresponding
to the same vertical line, this load line shall be marked W.
Additional load lines required by other international conventions in force may be marked at right
angles to and abaft the vertical line specified in paragraph (1) of this Regulation.
Mark of assigning authority
The mark of the Authority by whom the load lines are assigned may be indicated alongside the
load line ring above the horizontal line which passes through the centre of the ring, or above and
below it. This mark shall consist of not more than four initials to identify the Authoritys name,
each measuring approximately 115 millimetres in height and 75 millimetres in width.
Details of marking
The ring, lines and letters shall be painted in white or yellow on a dark ground or in black on a
light ground. They shall also be permanently marked on the sides of the ships to the satisfaction
of the Administration. The marks shall be plainly visible and, if necessary, special arrangements
shall be made for this purpose.
39
The zones and areas are, in general, based on the following criteria:
Summer - not more than 10 per cent winds of force 8 Beaufort (34 knots) or more.
Tropical - not more than 1 per cent winds of force 8 Beaufort (34 knots) or more. Not more than
one tropical storm in 10 years in an area of 5 square in any one separate calendar month.
Tropical Zone
(1) Northern boundary of the Tropical Zone
(2) Southern boundary of the Tropical Zone
(3) Areas to be included in the Tropical Zone
Seasonal Tropical Areas
The following are Seasonal Tropical Areas:
(1) In the North Atlantic
TROPICAL: 1 November to 15 July
SUMMER: 16 July to 31 October.
(2) In the Arabian Sea
40
Reading Draughts:
The following figure shows the draught marks between 11m and 12m.
It means that the mark is submerged up to the level of the mark, measurement of draught being
from the bottom up.
When the water is touching exactly the 11M mark at the bottom, only then is the draught read as
11m. anywhere above that is more than 11m.
The height of the mark being 20cm, therefore the top of the 11m mark would read a draught of
11.20 m.
The bottom of the decimal mark of 2 coincides with the top of the 11M mark and is to be read as
11.20m.
The decimal marks are each 10 cm in height.
Since the decimal marks are at 2, 4, 5 and 8, the odd numbered decimal being ignored, thus the
top of this 2 would read as 30 cm above the 11m mark or 11.30m.
If the water level were at a position between the top of 2 and the bottom of 4 then the reading
would be 11.35m.
For load line surveys the surveyor would mark a long baton (wooden) with the total length of the
freeboard (summer) and others and then checks with the same against the deck line and the
markings on the shipside (midship marks).
The shape of a rudder plays an important part in its efficiency. The area of the rudder is
approximately 2% of the product of the length of the ship and the designed draught.
Since the vertical dimensions of the rudder are somewhat restricted due to the area constraint as
mentioned above, the fore and aft dimensions are increased.
Again due to this increased dimensions the torque necessary to turn this rudder is overcome by
fitting balanced or semi balanced rudders. Such a rudder has about 1/3rd of the rudder area
forward of the turning axis.
An ideal rudder is one where the centre of pressure and the turning axis coincide for all angles of
the helm.
42
An unbalanced rudder consists of a number of pintles and gudgeons, the top pintle being the
locking pintle which prevents any vertical movement in the rudder and the pintle And gudgeon
taking the weight of the rudder.
Thirdly, just as screws come in left hand and right hand threads, propellers have the same
designation. When facing the water/ air flow if the top of the propeller moves to the right, it is
designated Right Hand and if to the left it is Left Hand. (As viewed from the front a right
hand propeller turns counterclockwise and a left hand propeller turns clockwise.) Propellers will
frequently be stamped as RH or LH.
Propeller and some definitions
44
Boss or Hub
The central portion of a screw propeller to which the blades are attached and through which the
driving shaft is fitted.
Rake
The point displacement, from the propeller plane to the generator line in the direction of the shaft
axis. Aft displacement is considered positive rake (see Figure 2). The rake at the blade tip or the
rake angle are generally used as measures of the rake. The strength criteria of some classification
societies use other definitions for rake.
Skew
The displacement of any blade section along the pitch helix measured from the generator line to
the reference point of the section (see Figure 2). Positive skew- back is opposite to the direction
of ahead motion of the blade section. The skew definition pertains to midchord skew, unless
specified otherwise.
Back (of blade)
The side of a propeller blade which faces generally in the direction of ahead motion. This side of
the blade is also known as the suction side of the blade because the average pressure there is
lower than the pressure on the face of the blade during normal ahead operation.
Tip
The maximum reach of the blade from the center of the propeller hub. It separates the leading
edge from the trailing edge.
Radius
45
46
Stern tubes are fitted to provide a bearing for the tail end shaft and to enable a watertight gland to
be fitted at an accessible position.
The tube is usually constructed of cast steel with a flange at its forward end and a thread at the
after end. It is inserted from forward and this end is bolted over packing to the after peak
bulkhead. A large nut is placed over the thread at the after end, tightened and secured to the
propeller post.
In an oil lubricated stern tube the bearings are made of white metal. A gland is fitted to each end
of the stern tube and since the after end gland will not be accessible during sea service it is made
self adjusting. The flange shown is attached to the propeller so that it rotates with the shaft and
oil tightness is obtained by a rotating gland.
States how the propeller is attached to the tailshaft
The after end of the tail end shaft is tapered to receive the propeller boss and a key is provided to
transfer the torque from the shaft to the propeller. A nut fitted with a locking plate secures the
propeller in position and as an additional safeguard it is fitted with a left hand thread in
association with a right hand ed propeller or vice versa.
To remove the propeller and the tail end shaft the propeller should be slung on special eyes
provide on the shell for this purpose the rope guards removed and the propeller nut
slackened.
The propeller is then started from the shaft by driving steel wedges between the boss and the
propeller post. When it is free the nut is removed.
47
48
49
50
51
52
RGU
SOURCE: Internet
53