GENERAL ARRANGEMENT

PLAN

SPACES AND SEPARATIONS

The general
arrangement plan
shows the division of a
vessel into
compartments in cross
sections and
longitudinal sections.

The compartments are formed by vertical

separations (longitudinal and transverse
bulkheads) and horizontal separations
(decks)

These compartments and spaces serve as storage

spaces for cargoes, stores, equipment, spare parts,
liquids, etc.,

as accommodation spaces for passengers and

members of the crew, and as "domestic
spaces", such as galley, pantries, dispensary

The upper deck, or main deck is often the deck

that is exposed to sea and weather. That is
why the main deck is also called the "weather
deck". In fact, it provides a "shelter" for all the
contents of the vessel.

The extreme fore end of the vessel is called

stem. The extreme aft end is the stern.

The foremost part of the upper deck is called the

forecastle. Its bulwark is called the vauxhall. The
anchor winches are situated on this deck.

The tweendeck is the intermediate

deck between upper deck and
the inside bottom of the vessel,
called tanktop. The tweendeck
divides the vessel into separate holds.
The upper holds and lower holds are
the spaces that contain the cargoes.

Spaces for liquid cargoes are called

tanks.

Access to a hold can be obtained through

hatches. On freighters these hatches must
be sufficiently broad for grabs to be
lowered into the holds.

The foremost and aftermost spaces of the vessel are

the peak tanks. They may serve as storage spaces
for ballast water and are capable of "absorbing" a
part of the impact-forces that are released in case of
a collision.

The anchor chain is stored in the

chain locker. It is situated over the
fore peaktank.

The upper part of the fore

peaktank is called the
boatswain's (or bosun's)
locker, where ropes,
paint and dunnage are kept.

Bulkheads are the vertical separations between holds

and spaces. The fore peak bulkhead and after peak
bulkhead
are the so-called collision bulkheads.
These transverse bulkheads are watertight and
prevent the vessel from flooding in case the vessel
collides with an other vessel. Collision bulkheads are
also fire-retarding or even fireproof.

Apart from transverse bulkheads tankers are also

fitted with two longitudinal bulkheads that divide the
vessel into starboard- and port wing tanks and a
centre tank.

The engine room is a watertight machinery space that

contains the vessel's propulsion plant.

The steering engine room must also be a watertight

compartment and is very often situated over the after
peaktank. Due to large stresses that occur under the
engine room and peaktanks, additional strengthenings
are often inserted.

The double bottom provides strength and

storage space for fuel, lubricating oil, fresh
water, salt (ballast) water and potable water.

To prevent liquids from leaking from one double

bottom tank into the other, longitudinal and
transverse separations are used between the tanks.
These separations, which are in fact empty spaces,
are called cofferdams.

On the main deck we find the so-called

superstructure with the accommodation for
the crew and passengers, the messroom, the
galley and the pantry.

Identify the following

abcdefghijklmn-

After having identified the different spaces of a ship

think what their main functions are

SPACE
A
B
C
D
E
F

FUNCTION

G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N

The navigating bridge contains the wheelhouse

with the control station, the chartroom where
charts, pilot books and publications are kept,
and the radio room.

There are the instruments for navigation, such as the

Radar, the log,

the echo sounder,

the steering compass and repeater compass

which receives and indicates the true direction
transmitted electrically from the Master
Compass.

The master compass is

usually situated on the
monkey island, a small deck or
platform over the wheelhouse.

The upper deck

The imaginary line from stem to stern is
called the fore-and-aft line. It divides the
vessel into a starboard- and portside
(when facing forward). "Abeam" is used
to indicate direction at a right angle to
the fore-and-aft line. The terms used to
indicate directions in which the vessel
can proceed are: ahead and astern,
starboard and port.

The upper deck, or main deck, is divided into the foremost

deck, called "forecastle", the centre deck, called
"midships", and the aft deck, called "quarterdeck". A
raised quarterdeck is called "poopdeck.The foremost part
of the vessel is divided into the starboard bow and port
bow . The quarterdeck is divided into the starboard quarter
and port quarter.

Answer the following:

What are bulkheads?
What are decks?
Why is the main deck also called the weather deck?
What can we store in the compartments of a ship?
Where are the anchor winches situated?
Where is the cargo stored in a freighter?
Where is the cargo stored in a tanker?
What do peak tanks serve as?
Where is the anchor chain stored?
What is kept in the bosuns locker?
Name the watertight and fireproof spaces in a ship.
What is usually stored in the double bottom?
What spaces does the superstructure house?
What does the navigating bridge contain?
What is the fore-and-aft line?

FILL IN THE BLANK SPACES

1. The fore and aft line s.. starboard from
port.
2. Decks and b. are horizontal and vertical
s.. that form the holds and spaces.
3. There are three types of decks: u..,
t, l.. (tanktop).
4. The upper deck is divided into f,
a. and q decks. The bow is
divided into s bow and p.
bow. The quarters are divided into s. and
p. quarters.
5. The forepeak bulkhead and the afterpeak bulkhead are
w. bulkheads.

6. There are two peak tanks : the f tank and

the a.. tank.
7. Watertight spaces are : e and
s.
8. The anchor chain is stored in the
c..
9. The double bottom is for s. and
provides s.. for fuel,
. and
w.
10. Cofferdams are t. or l
spaces between tanks that p.. leaking.