Afterdeck

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title: "Afterdeck" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["sailing-ship-components", "shipbuilding", "nautical-terminology"] topic_path: "general/sailing-ship-components" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterdeck" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/ship_diagram-numbers.svg" caption="Deck]]; '''9''': [[Superstructure]]"] ::

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

File:HMNZS Canterbury Pacific Partnership.jpg| with a large aftdeck for helicopters. File:Canterbury's Helicopter Afterdeck.jpg| 's helicopter afterdeck. File:Photograph of President Truman and members of his staff relaxing on the after deck of his yacht, the U.S.S.... - NARA - 199029.jpg|President Truman and members of his staff relaxing on the afterdeck of the yacht . File:US Navy 100329-N-1481K-293 USS Independence (LCS 2) arrives at Mole Pier at Naval Air Station Key West.jpg|After deck of . File:HO3S landing on after deck of USS Manchester (CL-83).jpg|HO3S landing on after deck of . File:After deck Abeille Bourbon.jpg|After deck of Abeille Bourbon. File:USS LCS(L) 102.jpg|Sailors on the afterdeck of . File:Aft pool golden princess.jpg|Aftdeck pool on Golden Princess. File:RTOP-21 krma.jpg|Missile launchers on the after deck of Šibenik File:Lifeboat.stern.17-31.arp.jpg|After deck of a UK Rescue Lifeboat 17-31.

References

[http://www.gettyimages.com/photos/taffrail?excludenudity=true&sort=mostpopular&mediatype=photography&phrase=taffrail Getty Images, Taffrail Pictures and Images]
[http://phrontistery.info/nautical.html http://phrontistery.info, Nautical Terms]
Yachting, Dec. 2006 issue, page 94
[https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Team-Ships/PEO-Ships/LPD-17/ US Navy, LPD 17 Program Summary, Jan. 2017]
[http://www.sname.org/HigherLogic/System/DownloadDocumentFile.ashx?DocumentFileKey=a04d378b-14d4-401e-b1fe-bfb1626fa154 Marine Technology, Vol. 18, No. 1, Jan. 1981, pp. 38-50 Motion Studies of a Vessel with Water on Deck by Jeff Dillingham]
[http://www.salimbeti.com/micenei/ships.htm The Greek Age of Bronze Ships]

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