Dimensional constraints in ship design

The paper presents general rules for calculations of ship’s hull principle dimensions at preliminary stage of design process. There are characterized and defined basic assumptions of design process and limitations for calculations of dimensions and some criteria numbers. Limitations are an outcome of shipping routes what is related to shipping restrictions, diminishing of hull drag, achieving of required strength of hull and safety of shipping requirements. Shipping limitations are because of canals and straits dimensions or harbours drafts. In order to diminish propulsion power, what is related to economically justified solution, selected form and dimensions of hull must ensure minimizing of resistance, including skin friction and wavemaking resistance. That is why proper selection of coefficients of hull shape and dimensional criteria according to ship owner’s requirements i.e. deadweight (DWT) or cargo capacity (TEU), speed and seakeeping. In the paper are analyzed dimensional constraints due to shipping region, diminishing of wavemaking and skin friction resistance or application of Froude Number, ships dimensional coefficients (block coefficient, L/B, B/T, L/H) and coefficients expressing relations between capacity and displacement. The scope of applicability above presented values for different modern vessels construction were analyzed.