Weight, cost and design characteristics of tankers and dry cargo ships¹

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Johnson, Roger P. | Rumble, Henry P.

Affiliations: The Rand Corporation, California, U.S.A.

Note: [1] This research is sponsored by the U.S. Air Force under project Rand-contract no. AF 45(638)-700 monitored by the Directorate of Development Planning, Deputy Chief of Staff. Research and Development, Hq USAF. Views or conclusions contained in this Memorandum should not be interpreted as representing the official opinion or policy of the United States Air Force.

Abstract: This Memorandum presents a simple method of obtaining a first-order estimate of the displacement and cost of tankers and dry cargo ships, as a function of payload, speed, and range. The two characteristics of primary interest to system analyst, displacement and cost, are summarized as a function of payload and speed by a single graph each for tanker ships and two types of dry cargo ships. The components of weight and cost are developed from a series of design charts and simple equations. More detailed characteristics of the ship, including lenght, block coefficient, shaft horsepower, weight of steel, outfit, and machinery, are also presented as well as the primary elements of material and labor costs associated with the last three items. The appendixes present supporting data and an example of use of the method.

DOI: 10.3233/ISP-1964-1112002

Journal: International Shipbuilding Progress, vol. 11, no. 120, pp. 358-396, 1964