A systematic procedure is developed utilizing computer techniques to determine the optimum combination of length, beam, draft, block coefficient, and depth to satisfy a predetermined "least cost" criterion for a dry cargo ship, which will meet a given set of owner's requirements for speed, fueling range, stowage factor and cargo deadweight. The least cost ship is obtained from a family of ships resulting from the permutation of four values each of five basic design variables. Selection of the least cost ship is dependent upon the computer programming of standard preliminary design processes which define only those ships consistent with good design practice and existing regulatory requirements. The methodology, examples of actual applications, and analysis of results obtained, are the principal features of the paper.
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Murphy et al. (1965) studied this question.