This Surveyor’s Glossary of Hull Terms is intended as a guide to improve the standardization of survey reporting.
It is recommended that the listed terms for hull structural elements are used throughout report narratives.
The Glossary also includes definitions of common hull survey terms that are applicable for surveys of hull structures and reporting.

All parties involved in the review of classification survey reports should have this Glossary available to assist with correct
interpretation of the report narratives.

IACS - the International Association of Classification Societies

Hull Terms
2.1 General
Accommodation Ladder is a portable set of steps on a ship’s side for people
boarding from small boats or from a pier.

Aft Peak Bulkhead is a term applied to the first main transverse watertight bulkhead forward of the stern. The aft peak tank is the compartment in the
narrow part of the stern aft of this last watertight bulkhead.

Bay is the area between adjacent transverse frames or transverse bulkheads.

Bilge Keel is a piece of plate set perpendicular to a ship’s shell along her bilges for about one third her length to reduce rolling.

Bilge Strake is the strake at the turn of bilge extending outward to a point where the side rises vertically.

Breast Hook is a triangular plate bracket joining port and starboard side structural members at the stem.

Bulkhead Deck is the uppermost continuous deck to which transverse watertight bulkheads and shell are carried.

Bulkhead Structure is the transverse or longitudinal bulkhead plating with stiffeners and girders.

Bulwark is the vertical plating immediately above the upper edge of the ship’s
side surrounding the exposed deck(s).

Cargo Area or Cargo Length Area is that part of the ship that contains cargo holds and cargo / slop tanks and adjacent areas including ballast tanks, fuel
tanks, cofferdams, void spaces and also including deck areas throughout the entire length and breadth of the part of the ship over the mentioned spaces.

Cargo Hold Bulkhead is a boundary bulkhead separating cargo holds.

Cargo Port is a door or port in a ship’s side for the loading or discharge of cargo or stores. Also called side port.

Carlings are supports usually of flat plate, welded in a fore and aft direction between transverse deck beams to prevent distortion of the plating.

For More Glossary of Hull Terms Download attached file

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