The effects of hull flexibility on shaft alignment are growing as ship sizes are increased mainly for container carrier and LNG carrier. In order to consider hull flexibility on a propulsion shafting system, standardization of ship service conditions is necessary because hull deformation is continuously variable according to ship service conditions. How to summarize ship service conditions is suggested based on practically applicable four viewpoints : hull, engine, loading and sea status. Effects of the external forces acting on a ship propulsion shafting system are generally commented. Several design criteria regulated by classification societies are pointed at issue which seems to have Insufficient technical background. A qualitative verification is carried out to point out the invalidity of the assumption of effective supporting position. In this work, an elastic nonlinear multi-supporting bearing system is introduced as a key concept of the elastic shaft alignment. Hertz contact theory is proved to be more proper one than projected area method in calculation of the nonlinear elastic stiffness of the bearing, The squeezing and oil film pressure calculations in the long journal bearing like an after stern tube bearing are recognized as a necessary process for elastic shaft alignment design.