In naval architecture, an afterdeck or after deck, or sometimes the aftdeck, aft deck or a-deck is the open deck area toward the stern or aft back part of a ship or boat. The afterdeck can be used for a number of different purposes, yet not all ships have an afterdeck. In place of the afterdeck, a ship may be built with a poop deck, that is a deck that forms the roof of a cabin built in the rear, or "aft", part of the superstructure of a ship; a poop deck is usually higher up than an afterdeck. A ship may have its superstructure or aftercastle located in the stern and thus not have an afterdeck. The stern and afterdeck of a ship are usually more smooth and stable than the bow (front) of the ship in motion. A taffrail is the handrail around the open afterdeck or poop deck. On wooden sailing ships like man-of-war or East Indiaman the taffrail is usually a hand carved wood rail and often highly decorated.

Afterdeck uses

• Navy war ships may use the afterdeck to mount deck guns.

• Missile boats may have missiles launching on the afterdeck.

• Minelaying gear on Navy ship's afterdeck.

• Minesweeper gear on Navy ship's afterdeck.

• Depth charge launching on Navy ship's afterdeck.

• Torpedo tube for torpedo launching on Navy ship's afterdeck.

• Some Navy and private ships use the afterdeck as a helicopter deck for a heliport for helicopters.

• A sundeck for chairs, chaise longue and lounge chairs.

• Rear deck swimming pool with a sundeck.

• On fishing boats a place to lay fishing nets or big-game fishing chairs or trawler gear.

• Cable laying gear.

• Scuba diving deck.

• Amphibious vehicle launching

• Submersible launching

• Water skiing launching

• Samson post, a strong pillar-post for a towing cable or other support.

• Lifting crane or gantry crane.

• Ferry ramp for vehicles.

• Ancient Greece ships sometimes had shrines or altars on the afterdeck.

Gallery

See also

• Common names for decks

• Main deck

References