20 - Fore end structure

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the structure forward of the collision bulkhead. On many conventional ships, a stem bar, which is a solid round bar, is fitted from the keel to the waterline region, and a radiused plate is fitted above the waterline to form the upper part of the stem. This forms what is referred to as a “soft nose” stem, which in the event of a collision will buckle under load, keeping the impact damage to a minimum. Small ships such as tugs and trawlers may still have a solid stem bar extending to the top of the bow, and some existing large passenger ships may have steel castings or forgings forming the lower part of the stem. A specially designed bow is required for ships assigned “icebreaker” notation, and additional scantlings are required for the stems of ships assigned other ice classes.