The Steadying of Ships ¹

Abstract

THE evolution of the modern flat-bottomed merchant vessel, with its midship section of approximately rectangular form, from its old pointed-bottomed prototype, with deep central keel, has been a necessary result of commercial competition. The naval architect is called on to increase the carrying capacity of his vessels to the utmost extent, and a limitation is imposed on their draught of water by the limited depth of harbours, docks, rivers and, last but not least, ship canals. The old central keel has had to disappear in order that the extra foot or two of displacement might be utilised for the carriage of cargo, and a substitute has had to be found for it by the attachment on “bilge-keels” or side keels projecting from the ship at the only places where they could be placed without taking up valuable space—namely, at the two rounded off corners of the rectangular section.