ISO 128-15:2013

Overview

ISO 128-15:2013 - "Technical product documentation (TPD) - General principles of presentation - Part 15: Presentation of shipbuilding drawings" - defines how shipbuilding drawings for metal hulls should be presented. It establishes clear rules for layout, views, sections, simplified representation, coding and graphic symbols to ensure consistent, unambiguous ship drawings used in design, construction, inspection and documentation.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Scope: Presentation rules specifically for shipbuilding drawings on metal hulls (orthographic projection required).
• Views and layout: Basic views include side, plan, bow and stern. Drawings place the stern to the left and the bow to the right; view names appear at the top. Guidance for layout of whole-vessel and block-structure drawings is provided.
• Directional and sectional views: Directional views are labeled with identification letters; sectional and partial sectional views show symmetry, breaking/wavy lines and projection directions.
• Frame and section rules: Frame sections, general sections and sub‑sections are identified with symbols, frame numbers and projection directions; magnified sections and sub‑section numbering are specified.
• Partial detailed drawings: Enlarged details are encircled and coded; multiple enlargements are numbered and scales indicated.
• Special drawing methods: Includes moulded line projection, overlapping drawings, unidirectional development for shell plates, double and unsymmetrical representations.
• Simplified representation: Standard symbols for swaged casings, grooved bulkheads, manholes and lightening holes to simplify repetitive features.
• Coding and arrangement: Conventions for stations (e.g., station 0 at after perpendicular), waterlines (e.g., 1000WL), buttock lines, frame numbering (every five frames for full-ship drawings), outer shell plate coding (strakes coded K, S, A, B, C...), stringers and tank/hold codes (with P/C/S suffixes).
• Graphic symbols: Standardized symbols (amidship, centerline CL, waterline WL, frame no. FR, etc.) are listed to ensure consistent interpretation.

Applications and Users

ISO 128-15 is essential for:

• Naval architects and ship designers creating technical drawings
• Shipyards and structural engineers producing fabrication and block drawings
• Class societies, surveyors and inspectors reviewing documentation
• CAD specialists implementing drawing templates and drafting standards

Using ISO 128-15 ensures accurate communication across multidisciplinary shipbuilding teams, reduces drawing errors, and supports consistent CAD output and microcopying.

Related Standards

Normative and related references include:

• ISO 128-25 (Lines on shipbuilding drawings)
• ISO 3098-2 (Lettering)
• ISO 5455 (Scales)
• ISO 5457 (Drawing sheet sizes/layout)
• ISO 6428 (Microcopying)
• Other parts of ISO 128 covering views, sections and line conventions

Keywords: ISO 128-15, shipbuilding drawings, technical product documentation, TPD, metal hulls, ship design, drafting standards, hull sections, coding conventions.