Hull structural strength

This course covers the precautions to be taken to maintain the strength of the ship’s hull: understanding how forces and bending moments affect the structure, how the hull structure works, what common defects to look for, and good operational practice to maintain the strength of the hull. This will be particularly useful for deck officers who have not previously sailed on dedicated bulk carriers.

Learning objectives:

• Recognize the function of the ship’s hull as a girder and the factors that affect the still water forces and moments on the hull
• Describe how the ship’s loading computer can be used to prevent overstressing of the hull
• Identify how the disposition of the cargo can affect those forces and moments
• Recognize that the forces on the hull change when the ship is at sea