Maritime Bookshelf // Ship Architecture & Construction
Ship Knowledge — A Modern Encyclopedia (K. Van Dokkum): Visual Anatomy of Commercial Vessels
One of the most acclaimed and visually comprehensive maritime encyclopedias ever published. Produced by renowned Dutch maritime specialists, this volume features hundreds of full-color 3D cutaway renderings, isometric drawings, blueprints, and clear technical explanations covering merchant ship construction from keel to masthead.
About the Book: The Ultimate Visual Reference for Nautical Education
Authored by Master Mariner and naval architect Klaas (Kees) Van Dokkum and published in the Netherlands by Dokmar, Ship Knowledge is internationally recognized as an essential handbook across nautical colleges, training academies, and shipping lines worldwide. The true strength of this publication lies in its exceptional visual presentation: complex marine engineering systems, machinery room layouts, and cargo handling configurations are displayed using translucent cross-sections and detailed structural perspectives.
While theoretical principles are presented in a concise, accessible format, its visual density makes it an invaluable asset for deck and engine cadets, marine engineers, and superintendents preparing technical presentations, port state inspections, and qualification exams. Furthermore, it serves as an authoritative visual dictionary of Maritime English terminology for maritime professionals attending crewing assessments and technical superintendent interviews.
Thematic Scope & Chapter Structure:
- Ship Classification & Types: Container vessels (feeders to ultra-large container ships / ULCV), bulk carriers, tankers (Crude, Product, Chemical), LNG/LPG carriers, Ro-Ro vessels, offshore supply vessels (OSV), and cable ships.
- Hull Construction: Bulbous bows, double-bottom tanks, side stringers, web frames, watertight bulkheads, pontoon and hydraulic hatch cover arrangements.
- Marine Propulsion: Low-speed two-stroke crosshead diesels, medium-speed four-stroke engines, controllable pitch propellers (CPP), fixed pitch propellers (FPP), and azimuthing thrusters (Azipod).
- Auxiliary Systems: Ballast and bilge piping, fuel oil treatment (purifiers, clarifiers, filters, preheaters), freshwater generators, and reverse osmosis plants.
- Deck Machinery & Steering: Mooring winches, anchor windlasses, semi-balanced rudder configurations, and electro-hydraulic steering gears.
- Bridge Ergonomics & Safety: Integrated Navigation Systems (INS/IBS), fixed CO2 and water mist fire-fighting systems, gravity davits, and rescue boats.
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Dokmar Encyclopedia
Ship Knowledge — A Modern Encyclopedia