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What are the Major Parts of a Ship?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

The parts of a ship vary, depending on what kind of boat it is, but a few general parts are common to all types. Knowing the parts will increase your understanding when reading about boating related topics, and will also help you orient yourself when on board a ship. Many of the terms used are very old, as humans have been building, sailing, and talking about ocean going vessels for thousands of years.

The core of a ship is the structural keel, a heavily reinforced spine which runs along the bottom, in the middle. The keel supports the structure of the ship, and is the first part to be built, since it serves as a foundation. Some ships also have a hydrodynamic keel designed to increase their performance efficiency, which takes the form of a streamlined projection from the bottom of the boat to help it move quickly and smoothly through the water. The framework for the hull or shell, the body, is attached to the keel.

The front region of a ship is the bow.
The front region of a ship is the bow.

The hull is the most visible part of a ship, because it is the body of the watercraft. The hull makes the ship buoyant while providing shelter to those on board, and is divided by bulkheads and decks, depending on its size. Bulkheads are compartments which run across the ship from side to side, creating isolated areas, while decks are analogous to the floors of a house. A small boat may only have one primary deck, while larger ones may have over 10 decks, stacked from top to bottom.

The poop deck is the deck above the rear and uppermost cabin on the stern, or aft, of a sailing ship.
The poop deck is the deck above the rear and uppermost cabin on the stern, or aft, of a sailing ship.

The very bottom is known as the bilge, and the top is usually called the top deck. The top deck is broken up by the bridge, a covered room which serves as the command center. On larger ships, the top deck may have several levels, designed to isolate various parts. There may also be several deck areas topside, including the poop deck, the deck in the rear of the ship, and the afterdeck, located directly behind the bridge. The rig, including masts, rigging, and sails, rises up from the top deck.

Wooden pulleys hold the rigging on a boat.
Wooden pulleys hold the rigging on a boat.

The front region is called the bow, and the rear is the stern. When someone is forward, they are in the front of the boat, while a sailor located amidships would be in the middle, and a person to the rear is aft. The right hand side is starboard, and the left is port.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WikiMotors researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WikiMotors researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon989417

The British Navy used to use, "There's a little port left in the bottle".

anon351604

@Post 14 : No, only if you are dealing with the scammer who says pirates are coming and he tries to send you a box of cash. Send no money to the liar.

anon341514

Really interesting! And what about the steering systems?

anon197920

Is there something called a brain box on a ship?

anon176308

Port vs. Starboard? Just remember, "Star Bright". (Bright contains the word "right", for those of you in Rio Linda!) Starboard is the right side of the ship.

anon91484

Port and starboard are the basis of the word "posh." It is said that the richest ocean travelers always wanted the shade on their side of the ship. Port Out, Starboard Home - "posh."

anon66456

What are the pipings of a ship?

anon58115

I remember which is port and which is starboard this way:

Port and left both have four letters

Starboard and right have more than four letters.

Here's a rhyme, feel free to use it:

Port and left have letters four.

Starboard and right, they both have more!

anon54262

The statue on the bow is called a figurehead.

lnrdkell

On a lot of the old sailing ships they had a statue of one type or another on the outside of the bow. What is the term used for it, or what the part would be called?

bigmetal

this is a lot of great info...there must be a rhyme or a song to help teach kids the different parts of a ship--i know i am always forgetting!

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    • The front region of a ship is the bow.
      By: James Steidl
      The front region of a ship is the bow.
    • The poop deck is the deck above the rear and uppermost cabin on the stern, or aft, of a sailing ship.
      By: spiritofamerica
      The poop deck is the deck above the rear and uppermost cabin on the stern, or aft, of a sailing ship.
    • Wooden pulleys hold the rigging on a boat.
      By: Philippe LERIDON
      Wooden pulleys hold the rigging on a boat.
    • The deck of a modern container ship is used to carry intermodal containers.
      By: gwen0
      The deck of a modern container ship is used to carry intermodal containers.
    • The bows of many large, modern ships have a bulbous protrusion to reduce hydrodynamic drag on the hull.
      By: keller
      The bows of many large, modern ships have a bulbous protrusion to reduce hydrodynamic drag on the hull.
    • A warship's superstructure, which is a structure that rises above the hull, usually houses navigational and targeting equipment.
      By: Pavlo Vakhrushev
      A warship's superstructure, which is a structure that rises above the hull, usually houses navigational and targeting equipment.