The general arrangement plan shows the divisions of a vessel into compartments using vertical bulkheads and horizontal decks. Compartments are used to store cargo, equipment, liquids and serve as crew and passenger accommodation. The upper deck, also called the weather deck, provides shelter. Fore and aft ends are the stem and stern. The forecastle deck houses anchor winches. Cargo is stored in holds divided by the tweendeck and tanktop. Liquid cargo spaces are called tanks. Peak tanks at each end absorb collision impacts. The anchor chain is in the chain locker above the fore peak tank. Collision bulkheads are watertight and fireproof. The engine room and steering gear room are also watertight. The

1. GENERAL ARRANGEMENT
PLAN

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

3. The compartments are formed by vertical
separations (longitudinal and transverse
bulkheads) and horizontal separations
(decks)

4. These compartments and spaces serve as storage
spaces for cargoes, stores, equipment, spare parts,
liquids, etc.,

5. as accommodation spaces for passengers and
members of the crew, and as "domestic
spaces", such as galley, pantries, dispensary

6. 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.

7. The extreme fore end of the vessel is called
stem. The extreme aft end is the stern.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Spaces for liquid cargoes are called tanks.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. The anchor chain is stored in the
chain locker. It is situated over the
fore peaktank.

14. The upper part of the fore
peaktank is called the
boatswain's (or bosun's)
locker, where ropes,
paint and dunnage are kept.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. The engine room is a watertight machinery space that
contains the vessel's propulsion plant.

18. 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.

19. The double bottom provides strength and
storage space for fuel, lubricating oil, fresh
water, salt (ballast) water and potable water.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. Identify the following

23. a-
b-
c-
d-
e-
f-
g-
h-
i-
j-
k-
l-
m-
n-

24. After having identified the different spaces of a ship
think what their main functions are
SPACE FUNCTION
A
B
C
D
E
F

25. G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N

26. The navigating bridge contains the wheelhouse
with the control station, the chartroom where
charts, pilot books and publications are kept,
and the radio room.

27. There are the instruments for navigation, such as the
Radar, the log,

28. the echo sounder,

29. the steering compass and repeater compass
which receives and indicates the true direction
transmitted electrically from the Master
Compass.

30. The master compass is
usually situated on the
monkey island, a small deck or
platform over the wheelhouse.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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 bosun’s 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?

34. 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.

35. 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.