Under what condition does hogging worsen?

Hogging is a condition that occurs when a ship’s hull bends upwards at the ends while the middle section dips downward. This can lead to increased stress on the hull structure, particularly at the ends, as a result of uneven loading or environmental factors.

The selected answer points to the amidship engine room area as a significant factor in the worsening of hogging. This is because the engine room is generally located near the midsection of a ship, where buoyancy and weight distribution can fluctuate based on the ship’s load and ballast conditions. When the ship is not adequately maintained or loaded, or when it experiences specific wave conditions, the imbalance in weight and buoyancy can exacerbate hogging, particularly since the machinery and fuel can contribute additional variable weight.

Locations in the bow, stern, or ballast tanks might not have the same exacerbating effects on hogging. The bow and stern would not be directly influential on the hull's midsection bending, and the ballast tanks can often be adjusted to minimize imbalances in weight distribution. The midship region, especially with heavy machinery like engine rooms, tends to be where stress accumulates, leading to increased susceptibility to hogging under certain operational conditions.