The
rear is the stern or
aft part of a
ship or
boat, technically defined as the area built up over the
sternpost, extending upwards from the counter to the
taffrail. The stern lies opposite of the
bow, the foremost part of a ship.
Stern area
The stern area is the location of the steering apparatus (
rudder,
tiller,
ship's wheel, etc), and by extension became the domain of the ship's
captain and other officers and a place to stay. In particular, the stern was the location of the officers' quarters, and during the
age of sail became the most opulent part of the ship, with rows of windows,
galleries,
walkways, and elaborate decorations. This resulted in a certain amount of vulnerability, and the goal of much maneuvering in battle was to achieve the
stern rake, in which a ship would pour its entire
broadside into the stern.
Features
Other features of the stern included
lanterns and the
ensign.
Types
Some types of sterns
Several types of sterns exist. These include :
History
Early ships
In the early part of the 19th century, the stern of larger ships became gradually more rounded, and with the advent of
screw-powered vessels, the stern became the location of the equipment, the officers moving elsewhere, though British ships still contained an Admiral's sternwalk until well into the twentieth century.
Modern cruiseships
In modern
cruise ships, the stern is frequently the location of the
dining room, so as to provide uninterrupted views of the sea.
Modern warships
In modern warships, particularly
cruisers and
destroyers, the stern is usually where the
helicopter pad is located. The stern tends to be lower set when compared to other parts of the ship, and may contain a
large caliber gun mount or
missile magazines.
Aircraft carriers typically use the deck space in the stern part of the ship for the recovery of incoming aircraft. Aircraft carriers may have aircraft elevators in the stern area to prevent interference of flight operations, which are launched from the
bow. For
submarines, both fast attack and ballistic missile, the stern is generally the location of the engine room and the motor room, if the submarine has one. If the submarine runs on
nuclear power the stern may contain a heat exchanger and other parts associated with a nuclear reactor.
Gallery
Image:Poupe-soleil-royal-berain.jpg|The transom of the Soleil Royal, by Jean Bérain the Elder
Image:VOC Amsterdam.jpg|The stern of the V.O.C. ship Amsterdam
Image:Spiegel Tirion28.JPG|The stern of a modern sailboat (Tirion28)
Image:lifeboat.stern.17-31.arp.jpg|The stern of a UK Severn class lifeboat 
