trunk deck ships were influenced by (some would say copied from) turret deck ships. in 1892, the sunderland, england firm of william doxford and sons ltd. built its first turret deck ship. inspired by u.s. whalebacks, one of which had recently visited liverpool, doxford built a ship which had a curved hull form which was stepped in above the waterline. the narrow part of the hull, called a "turret", was part of the hold.