SHIPS

Ships are still vital to the economy of many countries and they still carry
some 95 per cent of world trade. In 1998 the world’s cargo fleet totalled
some 775 million tonnes deadweight and was increasing by 2 per cent a
year (Parker, 1998). The average deadweight was about 17 000. Although
aircraft have displaced the transatlantic liner, ships still carry large numbers
of people on pleasure cruises and on the multiplicity of ferries in
all areas of the globe. Ships, and other marine structures, are needed to
exploit the riches of the deep.
Although one of the oldest forms of transport, ships, their equipment
and their function, are subject to constant evolution. Changes are driven
by changing patterns of world trade, by social pressures, by technological
improvements in materials, construction techniques and control
systems, and by pressure of economics. As an example, technology now
provides the ability to build much larger, faster, ships and these are
adopted to gain the economic advantages they can confer.
A feature of many new designs is the variation in form of ships
intended for relatively conventional tasks. This is for reasons of efficiency
and has been made possible by the advanced analysis methods available,
which enable unorthodox shapes to be adopted with confidence in their
performance. The naval architect is less tied to following a type ship. In
the same way means of propulsion and steering are tailored to suit the
hull form and conditions of service, and they will be closely integrated
one with the other.

from:

Introduction to
Naval Architecture
Fourth Edition
E. C. Tupper, BSc, CEng, RCNC, FRINA, WhSch