The entire upper portion of a ship, offshore platform, or floating production system that sits above the main deck or hull. On commercial vessels, it includes the superstructure, bridge, and deck machinery. On offshore oil rigs, the topside houses the drilling rigs, processing modules, and crew accommodations.
Heard on the job
The shipyard will build the hull in drydock while the topside modules are fabricated in a separate yard.
Also heard as
- Topsides