page_title: Naval architecture
section_title: The naval architect
hierarchical_section_title: Naval architecture / The naval architect
caption_attribution_description: English: 1/100 scale model of tanker ship Florida
context_page_description: Naval architecture, or naval engineering is an engineering discipline incorporating elements of mechanical, electrical, electronic, software and safety engineering as applied to the engineering design process, shipbuilding, maintenance, and operation of marine vessels and structures. Naval architecture involves basic and applied research, design, development, design evaluation and calculations during all stages of the life of a marine vehicle. Preliminary design of the vessel, its detailed design, construction, trials, operation and maintenance, launching and dry-docking are the main activities involved. Ship design calculations are also required for ships being modified. Naval architecture also involves formulation of safety regulations and damage-control rules and the approval and certification of ship designs to meet statutory and non-statutory requirements.
context_section_description: Due to the complexity associated with operating in a marine environment, naval architecture is a co-operative effort between groups of technically skilled individuals who are specialists in particular fields, often coordinated by a lead naval architect. This inherent complexity also means that the analytical tools available are much less evolved than those for designing aircraft, cars and even spacecraft.  This is due primarily to the paucity of data on the environment the marine vehicle is required to work in and the complexity of the interaction of waves and wind on a marine structure.
  A naval architect is an engineer who is responsible for the design, classification, survey, construction, and/or repair of ships, boats, other marine vessels, and offshore structures, both commercial and military, including:
  Merchant ships – oil tankers, gas tankers, cargo ships, bulk carriers, container ships
  Passenger/vehicle ferries, cruise ships
  Warships – frigates, destroyers, aircraft carriers, amphibious ships
  Submarines and underwater vehicles
  Icebreakers
  High speed craft – hovercraft, multi-hull ships, hydrofoil craft
  Workboats – barges, fishing boats, anchor handling tug supply vessels, platform supply vessels, tug boats, pilot vessels, rescue craft
  Yachts, power boats, and other recreational watercraft
  Offshore platforms and subsea developments
  Some of these vessels are amongst the largest (such as supertankers), most complex (such as Aircraft carriers), and highly valued movable structures produced by mankind. They are typically the most efficient method of transporting the world's raw materials and products. Modern engineering on this scale is essentially a team activity conducted by specialists in their respective fields and disciplines. 
  Naval architects integrate these activities. This demanding leadership role requires managerial qualities and the ability to bring together the often-conflicting demands of the various design constraints to produce a product which is fit for the purpose.
  In addition to this leadership role, a naval architect also has a specialist function in ensuring that a safe, economic, environmentally sound and seaworthy design is produced. To undertake all these tasks, a naval architect must have an understanding of many branches of engineering and must be in the forefront of high technology areas. He or she must be able to effectively utilize the services provided by scientists, lawyers, accountants, and business people of many kinds.
  Naval architects typically work for shipyards, ship owners, design firms and consultancies, equipment manufacturers, Classification societies, regulatory bodies (Admiralty law), navies, and governments.
caption: 1/100 scale model of Veteran Class MT46 Tanker. Florida
exif: {"Image Make": "Apple", "Image Model": "iPhone 6 Plus", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "10.2.1", "Image DateTime": "2017:04:17 08:08:51", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered", "Image ExifOffset": "210", "GPS GPSVersionID": "[2, 2, 0, 0]", "GPS GPSLatitudeRef": "N", "GPS GPSLatitude": "[38, 4, 212/25]", "GPS GPSLongitudeRef": "W", "GPS GPSLongitude": "[122, 13, 5351/100]", "GPS GPSAltitudeRef": "0", "GPS GPSAltitude": "18999/1907", "GPS GPSTimeStamp": "[15, 8, 51]", "GPS GPSSpeedRef": "K", "GPS GPSSpeed": "0", "GPS GPSImgDirectionRef": "T", "GPS GPSImgDirection": "21211/71", "GPS GPSDestBearingRef": "T", "GPS GPSDestBearing": "21211/71", "GPS GPSDate": "2017:04:17", "GPS Tag 0x001F": "10", "Image GPSInfo": "1728", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "2144", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "3690", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/15", "EXIF FNumber": "11/5", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Normal", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "100", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0221", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2017:04:17 08:08:51", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2017:04:17 08:08:51", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "2270/581", "EXIF ApertureValue": "7983/3509", "EXIF BrightnessValue": "3831/1771", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF Flash": "Flash did not fire, auto mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "83/20", "EXIF SubjectArea": "[1631, 1223, 1795, 1077]", "EXIF SubSecTimeOriginal": "453", "EXIF SubSecTimeDigitized": "453", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "3264", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "2448", "EXIF SensingMethod": "One-chip color area", "EXIF SceneType": "Directly Photographed", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF FocalLengthIn35mmFilm": "29", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF ImageUniqueID": "e4638f0f7c04d02b0000000000000000", "EXIF LensSpecification": "[83/20, 83/20, 11/5, 11/5]", "EXIF LensMake": "Apple", "EXIF LensModel": "iPhone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2"}