Shipsides

Shipsides are the vertical surfaces forming the sides of a ship's hull. The term describes the area from the keel up to the deck, including the exterior planking or shell plating, frames, and any weather deck structures that sit along the sides. In wooden ships, the shipsides were built from overlapping planks fastened to rib-like frames; on metal-hulled vessels, the sides consist of shell plates riveted or welded to frames, with stiffeners and splice plates as needed. The upper edge of the sides is defined by the gunwale or bulwarks, while the line where the hull meets the water is the waterline.

The shipsides perform several functions: they provide buoyancy and resistance to hull stress, enclose cargo holds and ballast, and support openings such as portholes, gunports, doors, and hatches. They also carry fittings including cleats, fairleads, and, on ships with deck-edge bulwarks, the protective barriers along the upper edge.

Historically, the design of shipsides affected strength, weight, and storage capacity. In wooden ships, care was taken to prevent leakage and rot of planks; in modern vessels, ship sides are thicker and more resistant, built from steel or other alloys, with corrosion protection and insulation.

In usage, "shipsides" can also refer to the side surfaces of a vessel in a general sense, distinct from the bow, stern, or deck, and are a key element in hull form, affecting stability, hydrodynamics, and exterior appearance.