The structural arrangement and form of the forward end of the ship.
- Bulbous bow - A bulb-shaped underwater bow designed to reduce wave making resistance and any pitching motion of the ship. A bulb is intended to interact with the primary wave making characteristics of the ship so as to develop an independent wave system that reduces the total wave system generated by the hull-bulb combination. However the bulbous bow has a negative effect on power consumption when only partly submerged or not designed properly.
See also SEA-Arrow bow
