PANTING Panting refers to a tendency for the shell plating to work ‘in’ and ‘out’ in a bellows like fashion, and is caused by the fluctuating pressures on the hull at the ends when the ship is amongst waves. These forces are most severe when the vessel is running into waves and is pitching heavily, the large pressures occurring over a short time cycle. Strengthening to resist panting both forward and aft is covered in Chapter 17.