Bow Design

As discussed in previous sections, the ethos of the design of the bow can be seen to be similar to that of a Bulk Carrier, in that both vessels are looking to maximise internal volume, in our case to ensure the largest internal volume for accommodation, in the Bulk carrier it is clearly volume for cargo. Fuel consumption for the Ship Owner is paramount and in our case energy consumption for propulsion is also key - so further parallels in requirement.

Using this design approach as a template to start from, we refined the bow sections to reduce the area in the centre of the bow (where there is what  is known as the Pitot Stagnation point) .  This area is where there will be a pressure build up that causes the fluid to flow to either side.

So we have evolved the semi-cylindrical bow into an ellipse whereby we are accelerating the water particles  in a less vigorous manner. (Lower acceleration equates with lower forces applied to the water particles) This results in a smaller pressure increase at the bow and by accelerating the water particles horizontally at a lower rate, absorbs less energy. We also have been careful to maintain the water particle trajectory horizontal by not directing water from the bow under the hull. Our aim is to reduce ‘mixed flow’ (The term "mixed flow" describes a direction that is halfway between axial (along the axis) and radial (perpendicular to the axis)  along the length of the hull. This results in lower energy loss - the aim is move each water particle through as small a distance as is possible. (To put this another way - we aim to maintain two dimensional flow and not three!)

Most current bow designs have a protruding stem, some rake and are designed to direct some water under the hull as well as to either side.

The end result is a hull that has evolved to reduce turbulence, improve propulsive efficiency with a low wash, that has not compromised the volume required for accommodation whatsoever, a machinery space with improved useable volume and has an improved external area on the foredeck.