double hull

ship part

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July 20, 2026

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A double hull in shipbuilding refers to a ship's construction that includes two complete layers of hull structure separated by a space. This design is particularly characteristic of submarines, where the outer hull is typically of lighter construction and the volume between the hulls is used for carrying fuel and ballast liquids. This space is not exposed to hydrostatic pressure. Modern ships, especially those carrying bulk liquids like oil, also often feature double hulls as a safety measure to prevent spills in case of damage to the outer hull.1

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tanker
…but the smallest ships have double hulls or some suitable equivalent. (In a double-hulled ship, the sides and bottom consist of two layers separated by a space sufficient to reduce the chance that an incident breaching one layer will breach the other.) After 1996 all new tankers were delivered with…
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…but the smallest ships have double hulls or some suitable equivalent. (In a double-hulled ship, the sides and bottom consist of two layers separated by a space sufficient to reduce the chance that an incident breaching one layer will breach the other.) After 1996 all new tankers were delivered with…
Read More