In ships having rounded gunwales, the moulded depth shall be measured at the point of intersection of the moulded lines of the deck and side shell plating, the lines extending as though the gunwale were of angular design. Moulded depth: This is the vertical distance measured from the top of the keel to the top of the freeboard deck beam at side. Amidships: Amidships is at the middle of the length (L).Ħ DEFINITIONS Breadth (B): Unless expressly provided otherwise, the breadth (B) is the maximum breadth of the ship, measured amidships to the moulded line of the frame in a ship with a metal shell and to the outer surface of the hull in a ship with a shell of any other material.
The forward perpendicular shall coincide with the foreside of the stem on the waterline on which the length (L) is measured. Perpendiculars (FP, AP): The forward and after perpendiculars are taken as being at the forward and after ends of the length (L).
Such an action would immediately invalidate all Classification Society and Load Line certification and will lead to criminal prosecution.ĥ DEFINITIONS Length (L): This is taken as 96% of the total length on a waterline at 85% of the least moulded depth, or, as the length from the fore side of the stem to the axis of the rudder stock on that waterline, if greater. It is a criminal offence for the Master and/or shipowner to allow a vessel to be operated in a zone, when in the upright condition, the relevant amidships zone load line would be below the still load waterline. Tropical Zones – Regions where not more than 1% of wind speeds exceed force 8 Beaufort (34 knots) and not more than one tropical storm in a ten-year period occurs in an area of 5º latitude/longitude square in any one separate calendar month.
1 CALCULATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF FREEBOARDĢ EXCEPTIONS The following ships are not required to have load lines assigned: warships new ships of less than 24 meters in length existing ships of less than 150 tons gross pleasure yachts not engaged in trade, and fishing vessels.ģ The principal conditions that must be satisfied before freeboard may be assigned to any ship take account of the following structural strength of the ship preservation of reserve buoyancy physical means of preventing entry of water into the hull safety of the crew on the weather deck potential wetness of the weather deck stability in the normal loaded condition (intact stability) degree of subdivision and stability after suffering prescribed damage.Ĥ ZONES Summer Zones – Regions where not more than 10% of wind speeds exceed force 8 Beaufort (34 knots).