Forecastle block

The forecastle block is the forward-most hull block, the bow section carrying the forecastle deck, the chain lockers, the windlass and mooring fittings, and the upper part of the stem. It is one of the last blocks set in the erection sequence because it closes out the bow after the long flat bottom and side blocks are in place. Its curved shell plating needs more forming and fairing than the parallel midbody, so it is often built with line-heating and dedicated jigs, and pre-outfitted with anchor handling and mooring equipment before erection to keep that work off the building berth.