Trunk deck ship

[1] In 1892, the Sunderland, England firm of William Doxford and Sons Ltd. built its first turret deck ship.

Inspired by U.S. whalebacks, one of which had recently visited Liverpool, Doxford built a ship which had a curved hull form which was stepped in above the waterline.

[4][1] This vessel was of "three-island" construction with a forecastle, bridge house, and quarterdeck, extending to the full width of a low-freeboard hull.

A distinctive feature was a long "trunk" along the centerline, with a breadth of about half the vessel's beam, which connected the three elements of the superstructure.

[8] The similarity was such that Doxford, builder and operator of the turret decks, sued Ropners for patent infringement.