A DISCIPLINED APPROACH TO MACHINERY ARRANGEMENTS IN SHIP DESIGN

This paper presents an overview of the machinery arrangement function as an integral part of the ship design process. It discusses an iterative process of arriving at a machinery arrangement that meets the demanding requirements of naval ship operation, maintenance, and survivability within the constraints of a balanced ship design. Examples of the various tradeoffs and variables impacting machinery arrangements at each design phase are provided to illustrate the complex problem of producing a balanced design. This paper also briefly discusses the tools available to design or to critically evaluate alternative arrangements and to assess the impact of structural and hull changes as the ship design matures.