BEAMS of a Ship are the great main cross-timbers which hold the sides of the ship from falling together, and also support the deck and the orlop. The main beam is next the main-mast, and from it they are successively reckoned as first, second, third, and so on. The greatest beam of all is called the midship beam. A ship is said to be on her beam-ends when she inclines so much to one side that her beams approach to a vertical position.