Ships & Boats

Glass on boats has different applications depending on the type of boat in question. The armoured windows that are used on navy vessels are similar to the windows on military vehicles, while the glass on commercial and cruise ships is not very different from the glass used on cars. Glass on boats therefore needs to satisfy a wide range of performance criteria, especially as international standards governing marine safety become increasingly demanding. The design of glass is continuously adapting to the changing speed and design of boats. For example, high speed vessels need to be equipped with highly resistant but still very light glazing. One way of saving weight on a boat is to bond the windows directly to the structure of the boat, thus eliminating the need for a frame.

Other important specifications for marine windows include: resistance to high pressure; thermal and solar protection; defrosting and demisting; and ballistic protection. Moreover, glazing on vessels often needs to protect the on-board instrumentation from interference by electro-magnetic radiation from radars and high frequency transmitters. Acoustic protection is also a necessity for many marine windows, for example windows that are next to the flight deck on aircraft carriers. For sensitive areas of a ship, fireproof windows are often a safety requirement, for example the windows in front of the lifeboats.