ABSTRACT
The General Arrangement of a ship is the principal document used to present the ship’s basic dimensions and features. It is drawn up by a naval architect based on prior knowledge and experience. The design of a ship is a creative process, but it is often heavily based on an existing ship, a proven design, which is incrementally elaborated on in every generation of the vessel. It is also updated with every generation to respond to actual external parameters, such as fuel costs and the latest requirements of the authorities and classification societies. Naturally, the technical development of systems and equipment is incorporated in the vessel design.
