Page 14 - Introduction to Naval Architecture

INTRODUCTION 3

architecture is a blend of science and art. Science is called upon to
make sure the ship goes at the intended speed, is sufficiently stable and
strong enough to withstand the rigours of the harsh environment in
which it moves, and so on. The art is in getting a judicious blend of the
many factors involved so as to produce a product that is not only
aesthetically pleasing but is able to carry out its function with maximum
effectiveness, efficiency and economy.
Naval architecture is a demanding profession because a ship is a
major capital investment that takes many years to create and is
expected to remain in service for perhaps twenty-five years or more. It
is usually part of a larger transport system and must be properly
integrated with the other elements of the overall system. The
geography of, and facilities at, some ports will restrict the size of ship
that can be accommodated and perhaps require it to carry special
loading and discharging equipment. An example of this is the
container ship. Goods can be placed in containers at the factory where
they are produced. These containers are of certain standard dimen-
sions and are taken by road, or rail, to a port with specialized handling
equipment where they are loaded on board. At the port of destination
they are offloaded on to land transport. The use of containers means
that ships need spend far less time in port loading and unloading and
the cargoes are more secure. Port fees are reduced and the ship is used
more productively.
The designer must create the best possible ship to meet the
operator's needs. In doing this he must know how the ship will be used
and anticipate changes that may occur in those needs and usage over
the years. Thus the design must be flexible. History shows that the most
highly regarded ships have been those able to adapt with time.
Most important is the safety of ship, crew and environment. The
design must be safe for normal operations and not be unduly
vulnerable to mishandling or accident. No ship can be absolutely safe
and a designer must take conscious decisions as to the level of risk
judged acceptable in the full range of scenarios in which the ship can
expect to find itself. There will always be a possibility that the
conditions catered for will be exceeded and the risk of this and the
potential consequences must be assessed and only accepted if they are
judged unavoidable or acceptable. Acceptable, that is, by the owner,
operator and the general public and not least by the designer who has
ultimate responsibility. Even where errors on the part of others have
caused an accident the designer should have considered such a
possibility and taken steps to minimize the consequences. For instance,
in the event of collision the ship must have a good chance of surviving
or, at least, of remaining afloat long enough for passengers to be taken
off safely. This brings with it the need for a whole range of life saving