Fig. 23. The deck of the Falls of Clyde is iron; a center strip is planked with wood as a sort of walkway. As is typical for a late-19th-century vessel, several deckhouses may be seen.

The purpose of the primary deck is structural, and only secondarily to provide weather-tightness, and to support people and equipment. The deck serves as the lid to the complex box girder which is the hull. It resists tension, compression, and racking forces. The deck's scantling is usually the same as the topsides, or might be heavier if the deck is expected to carry heavier loads (for example a container ship). The deck will be reinforced around deck fittings such as the capstan, cleats, or bollards.

On ships with more than one level, deck refers to the level itself. The actual floor surface is called the sole, while the term floor refers to a structural member tying the ships frames or ribs together over the keel. In modern ships, the interior decks are usually numbered from the primary deck, which is #1, downward and upward. So the first deck below the primary deck will be #2, and the first above the primary deck will be #A2 or #S2 (for "Above" or "Superstructure"). However, ships may also call decks by common names, or (especially on cruise ships) may invent fanciful and romantic names for a specific deck or area of that specific ship.

Equipment mounted on deck, such as the ship's wheel, binnacle, fife rails, and so forth, may be collectively referred to as deck furniture. Weather decks in western designs evolved from having structures fore and aft (forecastles and cabins) to mostly clear, then in the 19th century pilothouses and deckhouses began to appear, eventually developing into the superstructure of modern ships. Eastern designs developed earlier, with efficient middle decks and minimalist fore and aft cabin structures across a range of designs.

III. Answer the following questions:

1. What is a deck?

2. What is the function of the primary deck?

3. Does the primary deck resist tension, compression and racking forces?

4. How can the decks be numbered?

5. What is deck furniture?

IV. Translate the following text: “ Common names for decks. ”

In vessels having more than one deck there are various naming conventions, numerically, alphabetically, etc. However, there are also a variety of common historical names and types of decks:

Berth deck: A deck next below the gun deck, where the hammocks of the crew are swung.

Boat deck: Especially on ships with sponsons, the deck area where lifeboats or the ship's gig are stored.

Boiler deck: (River Steamers) The deck on which the boilers are placed.

Bridge deck: (a) The deck area including the helm and navigation station, and where the Officer of the Deck will be found, also known as the conn

(b) An athwart ships structure at the forward end of the cockpit with a deck, often somewhat lower than the primary deck, to prevent a pooping wave from entering through the companionway.

Flight deck: A deck from which aircraft take off or land.

Flush deck: Any continuous, unbroken deck from stem to stern.

Gun deck a deck below the spar deck, on which the ship's guns are carried. If there are two gun decks, the upper one is called the main deck, the lower, the lower gun deck; if there are three; one is called the middle gun deck.

Half-deck: That portion of the deck next below the spar deck which is between the mainmast and the cabin.

Helo deck: Usually located near the stern and always kept clear of obstacles hazardous to a helicopter landing.

Hurricane deck: (River Steamers, etc.), the upper deck, usually a light deck, erected above the frame of the hull (deriving its name from the wind that always seemed to blow on the deck).

Main deck: The highest deck of the hull (also called the upper deck, see below), usually but not always the weather deck. Anything above the main deck is superstructure.

Middle or Waist deck The upper deck amidships, the working area of the deck.

Orlop deck: The deck or part of a deck where the cables are stowed, usually below the water line. It is the lowest deck in a ship.

Poop deck: The deck forming the roof of a poop or poop cabin, built on the upper deck and extending from the mizzenmast aft.

Promenade deck: A "wrap-around porch" found on passenger ships and riverboats encircling the superstructure.

Quarter-deck: (a) The part of the upper deck abaft the mainmast, including the poop deck when there is one. Usually reserved for ship's officers, guests, and passengers.

(b) The area to which a gangway for officers and diplomatic guests to board the vessel leads. Also any entry point for personnel.

Side-decks: The upper decks outboard of any structures such as a coachroof or doghouse, also called a breezeway

Spar deck: (a) Same as the upper deck. (b) Sometimes a light deck fitted over the upper deck.

Sweep deck: The aft most deck on a minesweeper, set close to the waterline for ease in launch and recovery of equipment.

Upper deck: The highest deck of the hull, extending from stem to stern.

Weather deck: (a) Any deck exposed to the outside. (b) The windward side decks.

V. Retell the text “Deck.”