- A bulbous bow is a protruding bulb at the bow of a ship located just below the normal waterline. As the ship moves through the water, the bulbous bow modifies the flow of water around the hull, thereby reducing drag and increasing speed, range, and stability.
- Large ships with bulbous bows generally experience a 12% or greater fuel efficiency compared to similar vessels without bulbous bows. Fuel efficiency tends to increase with speed.
- As a ship with a conventionally-shaped bow moves through the water, a bow waveforms immediately in front of the bow, and a stern wave is generated at the stern of the vessel.
- The ship consumes energy in the creation of these waves. If the ship has a bulbous bow and is moving at speed, the trough formed by the bulb coincides with and partially cancels out the usual bow wave. Cancellation of the wave stream changes the pressure distribution along the hull and reduces wave resistance.
- Evidence indicates that a bulbous bow can also improve the trim and stability of the ship at the speed
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