Parts and Components:The forward part of the bow, usually on the ship's centerline, is called the stem.

Traditionally, the stem was an upright timber or metal bar into which side planks or plates were joined.

Bow of Ship
The bow is a nautical term that refers to the forward part of the hull of a ship or boat, the point that is most forward when the vessel is underway. Both of the adjectives fore and forward mean towards the bow. The other end of the boat is called the stern.

Function
The bow is designed to reduce the resistance of the hull cutting through water and should be tall enough to prevent water from easily washing over the top of it. On slower ships like tankers, a fuller bow shape is used to maximize the volume of the ship for a given length. A "wet bow" results from seawater washing over the top of the hull. A raked stem can help to reduce the wetness of the bow. Aside from making the deck slippery, water can corrode the metal of the ship. If the temperature is low enough this water can also freeze on the deck, rails, turrets, and other exposed surfaces, increasing the topside weight.
11 . Wash plate 12 . Collision bulkhead 13 . Side stringer 14 . Panting stringer plate 15 . Panting beam 16 . Pillar 17 . Frame 18 . Tank side bracket 19 . Beam bracket 20 . Beam 21 . Deck girder 22 . Center girder 28 . Shell long. 29 . Keel 30 . Plate stem

1 . Chain locker 2. Fore peak tank 3. Boatwains store 4. Bulbous bow 5. Fashion plate 6. Breast hook 7. Second deck 8. Upper deck 9. Forecastle deck 10 . Center division 23 . Rider plate 24 . Horizontal stiffener 25 . Deep floor 26 . Panting stringer under beam 27 . Rib

18 . Side plate 19. Sheer shake 20. Bulwark plate 21 . Bulwark stay 22. Hand rail 23. Beam bracket 24. 2nd deck beam 25. Deck girder 26. Web frame 27 . Web beam 28 . Hold pillar 29 . Rider plate 30. Collision bulkhead 31 . Manhole 32 . Beam bracket 33 . Tank side bracket 34 . Hatch side coaming 35. Water tight bulkhead 36 . Bulkhead stiffener 37 . Deck longitudinal 38 . Deck transverse beam 39 . Gusset plate

Types

Several types of bows exist. These include:

Tumblehome Raised foredeck Reverse sheer Conventional clipper Low-chain spoon bow High-chain spoon bow X-Bow (Developed by the Ulstein Group)

1 . Upper deck plate 2. Second deck plate 3. Tank top plating or inner bottom plating 4. Solid floor 5. Vertical stiffener 6. Bottom longitudinal 7. Center girder 8. Side girder 9. Horizontal margin plate 10 . Side stringer, or panting stringer 11 . Horizontal bracket 12 . Hold frame 13 . Tween deck frame 14 . Keel 1,5. A shako 16 . Bottom plate 17 . Bilge strake