Ship Design in Practice: First Things First is a guide for conventional and practical ship design, in which the reader is able to consult design recommendations and other theorical knowledge, supported by illustrated examples of previously applied solutions. Throughout the five chapters Jan Babicz, previously chief designer at Gdansk Shipyard and a surveyor for Bureau Veritas, tackles various complex designs decisions by applying standard approximations, experience and databases, collected during his 40 years of experience as a naval architect.
This book works as a visual reference book, somewhat reminiscent of earlier publications such as the Wärtsilä Encyclopaedia of Ship Technology. The reader is introduced to the ship design process, arrangement, equipment and, safety which are all analysed, as well as a brief introduction into the basics of Naval Architecture. This publication includes references work carried out by Baobab Naval Consultancy, the author himself, and other well-known ships. The publication mainly focuses upon cargo ships, including container ships, bulk carriers, tankers, ro-ro vessels, car carriers, chemical carriers, LNG carriers and LPG carriers, with some mention of others such as ro-pax ferries and offshore support vessels.