<P> A bulbous bow is a protruding bulb at the bow (or front) of a ship just below the waterline . The bulb modifies the way the water flows around the hull, reducing drag and thus increasing speed, range, fuel efficiency, and stability . Large ships with bulbous bows generally have twelve to fifteen percent better fuel efficiency than similar vessels without them . A bulbous bow also increases the buoyancy of the forward part and hence reduces the pitching of the ship to a small degree . </P> <P> Bulbous bows have been found to be most effective when used on vessels that meet the following conditions: </P>

Why is there a bulb on the bow of a ship