They fell out of favour, as they were very wet at high speeds and in heavy seas, but have made a comeback on modern ship design.
The 390 ft luxury motor yacht M/Y "A" has an inverted bow, along with a tumblehome hull design.
In 2007, the Bourbon Orca design model was included in the London Science Museum's display of innovative technology.
The vessel's operator claims that the design achieves higher speed and a calmer motion in head, rough seas.
The bow of the Zumwalt-class stealth guided missile destroyer for the United States Navy is also inverted.