Naval Architecture Course

Lesson 1 • Ship Geometry and Nomenclature

Establishes the coordinate system, principal dimensions, and naming conventions used throughout naval architecture. Provides the vocabulary needed for all subsequent technical work.

Lesson 2 • Hydrostatics and Buoyancy Principles

Covers Archimedes' principle, displacement, and the calculation of buoyant force. Links static equilibrium theory to practical vessel loading scenarios.

Lesson 3 • Reading and Interpreting Ship Plans

Teaches how to extract dimensional and structural data from general arrangement and lines drawings. Prepares students to use drawings as primary engineering references.

Lesson 1 • Static Stability Fundamentals

Defines metacenter, metacentric height, and the righting lever as measures of a vessel's resistance to heeling. Establishes the foundation for all stability assessments.

Lesson 2 • Loading Conditions and Trim

Covers how cargo, ballast, and consumables affect draft, trim, and stability. Students calculate loading conditions to verify compliance with stability criteria.

Lesson 3 • Free Surface and Liquid Cargo Effects

Quantifies the reduction in effective GM caused by slack tanks and liquid cargo movement. Addresses practical mitigation strategies for operational stability.

Lesson 4 • Damaged Stability and Flooding

Analyzes vessel behavior after hull breach using lost buoyancy and added weight methods. Prepares students to evaluate subdivision and damage survivability.

Lesson 1 • Components of Ship Resistance

Breaks total resistance into frictional, wave-making, viscous pressure, and appendage components. Understanding each component guides hull form optimization.

Lesson 2 • Power Estimation and Engine Matching

Applies resistance and propulsion data to estimate effective, thrust, and brake power. Students match engine output to propeller demand across the speed range.

Lesson 3 • Model Testing and Scaling Laws

Explains Froude scaling, towing tank procedures, and extrapolation of model results to full scale. Model tests remain the primary validation tool for resistance predictions.

Lesson 4 • Propeller Theory and Design

Covers actuator disk theory, blade element momentum theory, and key propeller geometry parameters. Students relate propeller design to thrust and efficiency requirements.

Lesson 1 • Hull Girder Strength Analysis

Applies beam theory to the ship cross-section to calculate bending stress and section modulus. Hull girder analysis determines whether the primary structure meets strength requirements.

Lesson 2 • Transverse and Longitudinal Framing Systems

Compares transverse, longitudinal, and combined framing arrangements for different vessel types. Frame spacing and orientation directly affect structural efficiency and weight.

Lesson 3 • Buckling and Local Strength

Addresses plate buckling, stiffener buckling, and local stress concentrations at openings and connections. Local failures can initiate progressive structural collapse.

Lesson 4 • Classification Society Scantling Rules

Introduces rule-based scantling determination as used by classification societies for steel and aluminum vessels. Rule compliance is the standard path to structural approval.

Lesson 1 • Response Amplitude Operators

Explains how RAOs quantify vessel motion response per unit wave amplitude across frequencies. RAOs are the core transfer function linking wave input to ship output.

Lesson 2 • Six Degrees of Freedom in Waves

Defines surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch, and yaw motions and their coupling relationships. Understanding motion coupling is essential for accurate seakeeping prediction.

Lesson 3 • Roll Reduction and Motion Control

Evaluates passive and active roll reduction devices including bilge keels, fin stabilizers, and anti-roll tanks. Device selection balances effectiveness, cost, and drag penalty.

Lesson 4 • Ocean Wave Spectra and Statistics

Covers irregular wave representation using energy spectra and statistical sea state parameters. Spectral methods link environmental data to ship response predictions.

Lesson 1 • Environmental Compliance Requirements

Addresses pollution prevention rules covering oil, sewage, garbage, air emissions, and ballast water. Environmental compliance is increasingly central to vessel design decisions.

Lesson 2 • International Maritime Regulatory Bodies

Identifies the roles of the international maritime organization, flag states, port states, and classification societies in the regulatory system. Understanding each actor's authority prevents compliance gaps.

Lesson 3 • Safety and Load Line Conventions

Covers the international conventions governing subdivision, stability, and freeboard assignment. These conventions set the minimum safety standards for all ocean-going vessels.

Lesson 4 • Classification Rules and Plan Approval

Explains the plan approval process, survey milestones, and certificate issuance by classification societies. Designers must align deliverables with class submission requirements.

Lesson 1 • General Arrangement Development

Translates functional requirements into spatial arrangements of machinery, cargo, accommodation, and safety systems. The general arrangement is the primary design communication document.

Lesson 2 • Weight and Center of Gravity Estimation

Builds a weight breakdown structure covering steel, outfit, machinery, and margins. Accurate weight and center of gravity estimates are critical inputs to stability and trim calculations.

Lesson 3 • Parametric and Regression-Based Sizing

Uses statistical relationships from existing vessels to generate initial principal dimensions and weight estimates. Parametric methods provide rapid feasibility checks early in design.

Lesson 4 • Design Spiral and Iteration

Introduces the naval architecture design spiral as a framework for balancing competing requirements across multiple design cycles. Iteration is the mechanism for converging on a feasible design.

Lesson 1 • Full-Scale Trials and Performance Validation

Covers speed trial procedures, power measurement, and correction methods for wind and current. Trial results validate design predictions and establish contractual performance benchmarks.

Lesson 2 • Computational Fluid Dynamics for Ships

Applies RANS-based CFD to predict resistance, wave patterns, and flow around appendages. CFD supplements model testing and enables rapid hull form iteration.

Lesson 3 • Hull Form Optimization Techniques

Combines parametric hull modeling with optimization algorithms to minimize resistance or fuel consumption. Systematic variation of hull parameters identifies performance-improving design directions.

Lesson 4 • Energy Efficiency and Fuel Optimization

Integrates hull, propeller, and machinery choices to minimize fuel consumption across the operational profile. Energy efficiency is now a primary design driver under international regulations.