Nautical Term: Sheer strake

Definition of Sheer strake

The sheer strake, also referred to as the uppermost strake or line of side shell plating, is the horizontal line located immediately adjacent to the strength deck on the side of a ship’s hull.

For example, in the following paragraph, the term sheer strake is used to describe the area of the ship’s hull that was damaged during a collision:

During a recent shipping collision in the Atlantic Ocean, the container ship MSC Napoli sustained significant damage to its starboard side. The impact of the collision caused a breach in the ship’s hull at the sheer strake, allowing seawater to flood the cargo hold and cause further damage to the vessel.

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