TS ISO 1964

TS ISO 1964 is a graphic-symbol standard for indicating details on ships’ general arrangement plans. General arrangement drawings present the vessel’s principal compartments, equipment and service spaces in a compact technical layout, and this standard defines the symbolic notation used to mark those details consistently.

Why symbols matter on ship arrangement drawings

General arrangement plans are core technical documents in shipbuilding because they show the internal and external organisation of a vessel at a glance. In this context, symbols reduce textual annotation, help drawings remain readable across languages, and support consistent interpretation by designers, builders and reviewers. Clear identification of bulkheads, openings, accommodation spaces and deck equipment is especially important where many different functions are shown on the same drawing.

What this standard covers

According to the title and abstract, the standard specifies symbols for bulkheads and bulkhead openings, accommodation furniture, sanitary equipment, galley and laundry spaces, workshops, navigation equipment, deck equipment, stairs, bulwarks, hatches and covers. It also includes basic symbols in certain subclauses and provides examples of symbol combinations at the end of most subclauses. That means the document addresses not only individual symbols but also how symbols are combined in practical plan notation.

From a technical documentation perspective, this helps distinguish structural elements from functional equipment in a ship layout. For example, an opening in a bulkhead must not be confused with the bulkhead itself, and navigational or deck equipment should remain visually distinct from accommodation or service fittings. TS ISO 1964 supports that common drawing language for ship design, yard communication and technical documentation.

• Symbols for structural items such as bulkheads, openings, bulwarks, hatches and covers
• Symbols for accommodation, sanitary, galley and laundry fittings
• Symbols for workshops, navigation equipment, deck equipment and stairs
• Basic symbols plus combination examples in many subclauses