What Is a Bulbous Bow?

Have you ever wondered what that protruding structure at the front of a ship is for? Well, that's the bulbous bow! And no... We’re not being suggestive. A bulbous bow is a bulb-like extension at the front of a ship's hull that helps to improve its hydrodynamic efficiency. By reducing drag and increasing fuel efficiency, the bulbous bow plays a crucial role in enhancing a ship's performance in the water. Ready to set sail on a journey of discovery? The bulbous bow beckons with a promise of both form and function!
00:00 - INTRO
00:54 - Ship Design
02:46 - Warships and Rams
04:05 - How Ships Move Through Water
04:38 - Bulbous Bow
05:46 - Early Bulbous Bows
07:04 - Environmental Impact of the Bulbous Bow
09:00 - OUTRO
Oceanliner Designs explores the design, construction, engineering and operation of history’s greatest vessels- from Titanic to Queen Mary and from the Empress of Ireland to the Lusitania. Join maritime researcher and illustrator Michael Brady as he tells the stories behind some of history's most famous ocean liners and machines!
#bulbousbow #shipdesign #navalarchitecture #maritimeengineering #shipbuilding #oceantechnology #seacraft #navalengineering #marineinnovation #explorethesea #shipscience #bowdesign #shipperformance #hydrodynamics #navaltechnology #vesselarchitecture #seavessels #oceanexploration #marineengineering #underwaterstructures

[@OceanlinerDesigns]

You may be surprised to learn that the bulbous bow's SECRET second use is actually as a captain's balcony, as Queen Mary 2's skipper Capt. Kevin Oprey demonstrated for a photo shoot (something, I hear on good authority, that he got in some trouble for doing!) kzbin.info/www/bejne/amLCmnSNlqxrj6M

[@baronvandragon2427]

The concept of an adjustable bow bulb actually has a bit of history in and of itself. Robert S. Boston filed a United States patent in 1967 on behalf of himself and David J. Seymour. Patent US3540400A was approved in 1970 and describes an adjustable bulb through the use of hydraulic power. Whether this was ever fitted to a ship for testing is something I'm still trying to research.

[@Tarry_Plaguer]

You could do what Jacques Cousteau did with Calypso and make a bulbous bow view port. Calypso is an interesting story, you may want to cover her someday.

[@ChristianConservativ]

It gives new thought to ancient Triremes. Maybe our ancestors new both uses?

[@formulafern3820]

Could you make a documentary about the wilhelm gustloff?

[@Cas_55]

​@@Tarry_Plaguerthe channel Calum has an excellent video covering that ship

[@williamromine5715]

I am 82 years old and didn't start looking at You-Tube videos until I retired 4 years ago. I stumbled on to this channel only recently. I really enjoy it.. For some reason, I feel like I recognize the narrator, which doesn't make any sense. Anyway, I look forward to his new videos.

[@oldsguy354]

Of course you recognize him, that's our friend Mike Brady from Ocean Liner Designs. ;) I'm a little bit younger than yourself, but there's definitely something recognizable about Mr Brady's speech and demeanor. He almost has the mid Atlantic "announcer" accent that we grew up hearing everywhere. (Not quite like Cary Grant but along that line) Or maybe it's just because he wears a shirt and tie, looks and acts like the professional he is. We don't see many people like that these days so when we do it seems like something we should be able to associate with a memory. I dunno, I'm just guessing. :)

[@kallekas8551]

Welcome to the club! Plenty of fantastic content out there. It’s not just cat and dancing clips.👍

[@MikeyRB77]

He is also the son of musical superstar, Mike Brady. Best channel around!@@oldsguy354

[@williamromine5715]

You are probably right. He is more professional than most.​@@oldsguy354

[@danielmorris6523]

@@kallekas8551 Funny cat videos do serve a vital purpose though. At least for me.🤣 Welcome to you, Sir. There's lots of fantastic videos on here of steam engines etc as well. I'm 36 years old and my Grandad always loved steam engines and ships. It reminds me of him sometimes and I forget he is no longer with us. Hope you have a nice weekend.

[@Lutra47]

It’s funny how we stumbled into realizing how effective and beneficial they are for maritime sailing not from centuries of research and development but simply because navies wanted to ram into other ships

[@Michael-zf1ko]

Ram strat best strat.

[@skyden24195]

Many of the greatest inventions throughout history have been created accidently/unintentionally.

[@turbofanlover]

Just one more reason to love the military.

[@shauny2285]

Ramming speed!

[@kentslocum]

The Greek triremes already had that figured out! 😊

[@TheTransporter007]

The bulbous bow is so counterintuitive looking that it's actually hard to believe that it *increases* efficiency versus the knife edge bow.

[@jimmcmeen761]

I agree! It is definitely very ugly in my eyes. Hey, but if it works, then it is what it is

[@lancerevell5979]

Similar to submarines nowadays, more efficient with a bulbous bow rather than the older knifelike bow. Look at the USS Triton, an early nuke sub designed with a very sharp bow for speed to keep up with the surface fleet. But modern subs having rounded bows can be even faster.

[@anthonyduffy6953]

It has to be pointy. Pointy is scary.

[@js19861234]

The bulbous bow, that’s what I call my doodle.

[@Wintermute909]

And 'bulbous protuberance' sounds so very un-hydrodynamic!

[@mikethompson2650]

Understand the bow also creates a perfect playground for dolphins. They seem to love to ride the wave and can get a "kick" through the water with little energy expended.

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

Any ship's bow wake is a dolphin playground, but this looks like it's even more fun !

[@Quint1836]

There’s another channel called, Casual Navigator, it’s a great channel that tells the science behind these topics, but Mike tell the HISTORY. Love it!!

[@cruisinguy6024]

Casual Navigation*

[@jhfdhgvnbjm75]

0:14 Glad you called it a 'protrusion', I'd have called it something else with that image XD

[@Kovitlac]

I was hoping the top comment would be something along this line. Was not disappointed.

[@dereks1264]

🤣

[@anything.with.motors]

Chode

[@johnp139]

Like an errection?

[@carloshortas2155]

first thing that came to mind was "Red Rocket" XD

[@mattisingestrom6piratensko839]

fun fact if you have ever seen dolphins swim infront of a bulbous bow and you wanna know why its because the bulbous bow creates a low pressure zone infront of the ship and it makes the dolphins go faster and swim easier

[@JoeJaJoeJoe]

Good to know that dolphins can also appreciate our shipbuilding skills

[@skyden24195]

Hmmm, when dolphins first encountered the new design, they were probably like, "It's about time the humans figured this out. Our snouts evolved into this concept shape a long time ago." lol.

[@justinrizzo1724]

I came here to say this as well. Dolphins are living their best lives riding the underwater wave created by the bow. Also the original idea for the bulbous bow came from studying dolphins and how their nose helped them break thru the water to swim at high speeds.

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

Any boat. With no bulbous bow they surf the bow wave. They do it with sailboats all the time and those have classic hull forms. It saves them energy and it looks like it's fun, plus most boat owners get excited and occasionally remember some leftover fish to give them. Or a dog falls in. People like surfing. Dolphins too.

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

@@user-lv7ph7hs7lAfter recently going sailing in a catamaran off the southwest coast of Mexico, this. The dolphins want to play, and the people just want to encourage them. Gladly. Because there's something kind of wonderful about dangling your feet a few feet above the water, and having another form of intelligent life jumping up to greet you, and see if you want to share your tuna tostadas. Yeah, Mr Spotted Dolphin splashing my feet, I'll let you mooch my dinner.

[@Sirikiller]

Ship is just happy to see us.

[@BalticFilms144]

Seeing a new video on my lunch break is so satisfying

[@adiconsdaple8026]

I'm just watching it after Arrival at Home from Work.

[@puterboy2]

I wish it was another update on Grand Voyage.

[@codehaunta9878]

Same :)

[@DoctorCheryl]

As a newer subscriber, I really enjoy your content. I have some sort of phobia of open ocean so your attention to detail is fascinating and you've reassured me that today's ocean travel is considerably safer than a century ago. Cheers from Annapolis!

[@skyden24195]

Ironic that you're from Annapolis. 😉

[@DoctorCheryl]

@@skyden24195And that my father was a Naval Academy graduate! I love the ships but like keeping land in sight. 😊

[@skyden24195]

@@DoctorCheryl I feel you. I like boats and the beach and even swimming (which I am an excellent swimmer,) but I am terrified of being in the ocean.

[@tmorg32]

Looks like the ship got a bit excited.

[@MrGoesBoom]

between that and talk about shrinking the size due to performance conditions....well glad I'm not the only one whose thoughts went there...which is even weirder when you consider ships are called she ( Edit...right, no more youtube time for bed )

[@MrGoesBoom]

@@livethefuture2492feel free to give an example with your critique

[@esteban1487]

​@@livethefuture2492Who are you, the joke police? 🤦‍♂️

[@ronjon7942]

@@esteban1487how about “maybe you should have that looked at?” I’d be a bit concerned looking down and seeing something like that.

[@ronjon7942]

@@MrGoesBoomNowadays, being a ‘she’ doesn’t exclude a ‘her’ from having ‘he’ parts. I think that indicates therapy is needed, but that’s the world we live in.

[@CristianGouget]

Didn't know ships could have the infamous Habsburg jaw too.

[@tweezerjam]

Hah! exactly 😂

[@watcher24601]

Thank you for this, I always wondered which ship designer was the first to look at a ship's bow and decide that it needed a codpiece!

[@SBragg88]

Kind of had to be an American didn't it

[@Daniel_Huffman]

Your word choice is absolutely _hysterical._

[@Salty_Balls]

An added benefit of your ship wearing a strap on is that it also increases buoyancy of the bow. If you ever watch an Iowa class BB in heavy weather crashing through the waves, they don't have a lot of reserve buoyancy in the bow with their very small bulbous bow. A far larger bulb would add more buoyancy back.

[@thing_under_the_stairs]

"Ship wearing a strap on" is an image that I won't be able to get out of my head for a while! Thank you for that!🤣

[@jamesplymire5342]

Salty Balls talking about strap-ons is kinda funny in itself. 😂

[@andredizon5805]

Ah yes, another treat from our friend Mike

[@Sassymouse88]

When one is on a ship I think it would be a bit rude to ask to see the bulbous bow so thank you Mike for shedding some light on it for us. I always wondered why they were there!

[@jaquigreenlees]

There is a caveat or two for them: 1) a bow design works for 1 hull size + shape at 1 speed. 2) on a smaller boat, like a motor yacht under 100 feet in length, they actually work as a stabilizer and slow down the pitching of the yacht. ( the fin stabilizers slow down the rolling not the pitching )

[@ravagetalon]

I feel like you read my mind, I was just searching your channel history for a video on bulbous bows and was sad when there was not one. Then today I wake up to this. Its a good day.

[@Ricardocomics14]

X2, i was looking some weeks ago if he had any videos about the bulbous bow.

[@Walker_TR2]

Hey, thats my friend, Mike Brady from Oceanliner Designs. It's a great day whenever he uploads. Great work as always!

[@jeffgann6613]

Best explanation of how it actually works that I have heard yet. Thanks Mike 👍

[@bobcoats2708]

Mike, I’ve wondered how these designs came about - thank you. By the way, I quite like your new intro

[@praetorian3902]

I always thought the bulbous bow is there to protect the hull if the ship crashes into something lol

[@AN-nt3uv]

Hey, for a physicist, this is one of my favorite of your videos. Anyway, i find them all interesting.

[@roccoliuzzi8394]

Thanks, Mike. You've answered a question I've had for over fifty years, from the time I was a youngster and became fascinated with the battle ships in the Spanish American War, which had inverted bows. Thanks again, your friend Rocco Liuzzi .

[@greenbeenie2]

THANK YOU MIKE FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL INTELLIGENT VIDEOS YOU PUT OUT.

[@RichieW90210]

I appreciate that you’ve already ceased the terrible habit that some KZbinrs have of putting sound effects on when a graphic is displayed on screen. It’s distracting, annoying, and not necessarily since you have intelligent interesting content anyway. So thanks for that.

[@canuckprogressive.3435]

Totally agree. I really hate that "whoosh" noise so many KZbinrs use!

[@RichieW90210]

@@canuckprogressive.3435 wow thank goodness, someone who thinks the same as me.

[@canuckprogressive.3435]

@@RichieW90210We seem to be few.

[@SaturnCanuck]

Nice video friend Mike Brady. I had always wondered about that. Also, I like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain, and the feel of the ocean and the taste of champagne.

[@BFSilenceDogood]

Well done. Nice Rupert Holmes reference at the end 🥂

[@everything1373]

Just want to say I absolutely love the new intro!

[@Cas_55]

Always happy with my friend Mike Brady from Oceanliner Designs uploads a new video.

[@WizrdGomez]

My friend Mike Brady, I look forward to each video you release. Please never stop making videos and I love this content! Thanks for always teaching me something!

[@uss_04]

Makes me wonder what other discoveries we’ll find in efficiencies in design once we start pushing into space travel.

[@NAMAHE]

I must say that the intro audio (and video) is great! the combo of the higher string instrument sounds with the super low horn is such a great contrast and I always get goosebumps!

[@bsa45acp]

Looks like a giant codpiece... Thanks for this video as it answered a question of mine I have wondered about for years.

[@davidthompson5766]

Thank you Mr. Brady for your great work and dedication.

[@stevemiller2296]

so confident when you speak. staring straight thru that camerca and into my soul. cannot be taught

[@UncommonSense1776]

This is not unlike phase cancellation in sound waves. Thank you. I learned something today.

[@bruh8911]

I'm sure many others have said it before but i love the new intro! gives me goosebumps every time! Keep up the great work :)

[@kallekas8551]

Thanks Mike. I grew up on a freight ship in Europe in the 70s so all this maritime stuff is just bliss. No I’m not involved in nautical stuff but I am an engineer. I do however miss hiring Halverson boats on the Hawkesbury years ago!Thanks again for the wonderful content.

[@SchneiderGeorge]

I never knew, with all my years working on cruise ships, how the weird bulbous bow worked. Once again, you've enlightened me!

[@NeonPink-lj9qq]

This video answers a question I didn't even know I had! Thanks

[@straswa]

Fascinating, nice work Oceanliner Designs.

[@alinmated]

Honey, wake up! Our friend Mike Brady posted! All jokes aside this is my favorite channel and aside from listening to it throughout the day I sometimes fall asleep to videos from it cus your voice is so soothing.

[@jimmcmeen761]

I was just wondering about this man! Thank you my friend Mike Brady from Oceanliner designs! 😊

[@ShaunHopkinsAVFC]

Thanks for explaining this so well

[@jaychaff1078]

Informative, clear presentation, excellent backing videos. As usual. Thank you.

[@tomcatfoolery]

Maritime engineering has been a favorite subject for many years. Having said that, I have learned so much from your channel.

[@gerryjamesedwards1227]

What is a bulbous bow? Bloody clever, that's what! They do look like a ship-sized cod-piece, but you can't deny their efficacy. Some version of the tubercles on whale fins, which allow for more 'lift' but with less drag, will find their way onto rudders and stabilisers I think.

[@fhwolthuis]

Great video! I would love to see another video about the "inverted" bow or straight bow. I see a lot of modern ships having this new shape, especially work ships in the off shore Industry.

[@Sadlander2]

Being able to retract the bulbous bow was a great idea! With airplanes, you use flaps to increase the surface of the wings to produce more lift. It allows you to fly at a lower speed but it also produces more drag, so the pilots can just retract the flaps when they don't need them anymore. Every large, fast ship should have retractable bulbous bows!

[@Lutra47]

I remember as a kid thinking it was some sort of rock/ice breaker 😂

[@cheesyllama]

Yet again, another very interesting video topic on something I never thought about before, and in true Mike Brady fashion, information mixed with a fun (in this case song) quip "sipping Pina colada, and getting caught in the rain"... Keep these videos coming!

[@AKkachie]

Thank you for explaining so succinctly! Destructive interference, how cool!

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Fabulous information, as always! Thank you for the video!

[@Seiskid]

Good explanation. The inverted bow at 8.13 (celebrity edge) won't take more waves over the bow. Quite the reverse. The shape greatly reduces pitching and remains drier. Traditional ships with their wide flared bows generate a lot of lift from approaching waves and this lift initiates the unwanted pitch-drop-pitch-slam cycle. Remove the lift and you get less slamming. Efficiency still matters so many of these newer axe/x/knife/inverted bow designs still include a bulbous shape below the water line. As such I imagine this one does also.

[@cruisinguy6024]

I strongly dislike the appearance of the inverted bow, just one of many ways the Celebrity Edge is a hideous ship

[@dca73]

GREAT video Mike! Love learning new tings with your posts.

[@joeblogs-vx4ep]

Excellent video tutorial This is something that I have wanted to know about ship design Thankyou for sharing 👍

[@snizzy89]

Video ends: thank you for watching... Me: Immediately searches inverted bow! Thanks for another good vid that's sending me down another rabbit hole of knowledge of

[@zebastinio]

This was a perfectly done video. Informative, short enough to keep me watching and Well edited. Good job, worth a sub. 👏🏻

[@mssixty3426]

Thank you for explaining this - I wondered what made it increase hydrodynamic efficiency.

[@parksto]

From hydrodynamics to acoustic, light, radio or quantum things, waves are always kind of strange. Amazing! Thank you 👍

[@HunterLohseRRVideos]

Mike, your videos are truly a class act and I have been doing the same thing as you with railroads for years, and do my own film archiving. Since railroads and maritime shipping when hand in hand, I would love to see more content on railroad’s tug and car ferry fleet, that is a lost history that not many know and you could explain the maritime end better than I ever could! Just a suggestion, I tune it every week, your video have been inspiring to get a kit of the RMS Olympic this year! Keep up the absolutely splendid work! - Hunter Lohse “thetrainguy”

[@andyjm2033]

Love the new opening titles. Always a pleasure watching your videos. So informative and always engaging. Keep it going ❤

[@williamwelch7]

Thanks Mike

[@lancerevell5979]

My Navy ASW Frigate had a big rubber sonar dome, that also served a similar purpose.

[@Th.G.M.]

Amazing! Thanks for making me smarter, as I always wondered how such avow would work!

[@geecroe-vu3xk]

Awesome vid mate! Would you consider making a documentary style video about the history of ship propulsion?

[@scottlewisparsons9551]

Thank you Mike for another very informative video. All the best from Sydney

[@runswithbeer]

I've always wanted to know about this. Thank you.

[@maj0072]

Its amazing how many top inventions are discovered by accident .

[@phluphie]

Mike, I'm liking the improved production values. Keep it up.

[@keithagnew5934]

I love your show. Educatuonal too. Thankyou.

[@wasatchrangerailway6921]

I like your stuff Mike!!! You know ships the way I know trains. You do a very nice job on these vids!!!

[@cyrilio]

YES!!! I've always wondered about this.

[@blahmooblah789]

Wow Mike, this was a great video! Thank you!

[@mikehunter5046]

Excellent content as usual. Keep up the good work!

[@leebob61]

Huh... I hav enjoyed this channel for some time, but this video just made my night! What a fascinating thing that I have been wondering about for some time. Oh, and charming video end too :)

[@p.k.5455]

Very informative and interesting, thanks Mike!

[@williamevans9426]

Your period collar and contrasting shirt are most dapper, Sir!

[@alveolate]

always ready to hoot along witht the foghorn!

[@donmears4090]

I know no one would ever build one but I would enjoy seeing a naval architect and a weapons expert redesign an Iowa class battleship using modern hull technology and powerplants. The hull would have to be capable of transiting the Panama Canal. The ship would be used for shore bombardment, refueling and rearming helicopters and VTOL aircraft used for close air support. Keeping the forward 16in. turrets and 5in. turrets would provide for shore bombardment, removing the aft 16in. turret would allow the aircraft facilities to be installed. A ship capable of these tasks would help alot of US Marines sleep better at night. And before you ask I'm an USAF veteran.

[@oscarvi3232]

Fascinating. I always imagined it was to deal with submerged objects. This makes much more sense.

[@jamesgillis5429]

I love these kinds of maritime technology videos that you make.

[@michaelimbesi2314]

Great video with excellent information

[@StephanieElizabethMann]

When you began describing the bulbous bow I immediately thought of the gallery's of ancient Greece. They a bow designed for ramming other vessels but wondered if their speed was augmented by this long bow.

[@harryvlogs7833]

Another awesome video

[@itsthegrape]

The cheesy-ness of the pina colada line was awesome

[@kvg8133]

I took a shot every time he said bulbous bow. Now my liver is dead.

[@leotrollstoy2351]

I’d love it if humans considered noise generated when we designed oceangoing vessels.

[@sc1338]

We do

[@alstonofalltrades3142]

The latest I've heard is they switch it off when a pod comes near. Navies too unless they can't risk it for some reason.

[@MaryClareVideos]

Your videos always teach me something . ❤😎🚢

[@IstasPumaNevada]

I am 100% about form following function. So I definitely like these.

[@emmbrown1999]

Thanks!

[@thewatcher5271]

I Liked Your Video & You Remind Me Of The Actor Who Played Andrew Foyle On, Foyle's War. Thank You.

[@artswri]

Great video thanks!

[@hagerty1952]

This is very much like "tuned exhaust" pipes on racing cars. The exhaust gasses travel in pulses created when the exhaust valve opens, and when each pulse reaches the air at the end of the pipe, it over-expands, which creates a low pressure zone around the end. This means a negative pressure pulse travels back up the pipe to the engine. If you time it just right, the negative pulse reaches the exhaust valve just as it's releasing a new pulse of gas. This helps "scavenge the cylinder" to a greater extent, which, in turn, leaves more room in the cylinder for the new fuel/air charge. As you can probably guess, this only happens at a very narrow range of engine speed, so the pipes are "tuned" to be most effective at the power-peak of the engine, just like the bulbous bow.

[@joefin5900]

Years back I worked at a shipyard in Boston. We fabricated and installed bulbus bows for the Knox class frigates. We called them sonar domes. They were clad with a B. F. Goodrich rubber "boot" almost 2" thick. No steel, which allowed the sonar waves to propogate. The compartment behind the rubber was flooded to allow sound transmission and had to be pressurized. I hate to think of what happens to any marine life near these vessels. The sonar equipment was not to be energized while in port in case any divers nearby in other yards were working.

[@cruisinguy6024]

Unfortunately active sonar use (especially modern sonars) are known to cause huge impact to wildlife, such as causing entire pods of whales to beach.

[@onarolldan]

Love the new intro mike. X

[@randelbrooks]

Wonderful.

[@frank2398]

This is just a great channel!!!

[@HoosierDaddy_]

Well... I learned something new today, lol. Always a top notch video!