How to keep the water outside the ship and the sailor inside the ship?

LOAD LINE regulations is the answer!

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Jan-Åke Jönsson, January 2008

RESERVE BUOYANCY & FREEBOARD International Load Line Convention 1966

The volume of the enclosed spaces above the waterline are not providing
buoyancy, but are being held in reserve. If extra weights are loaded, these spaces The overall objectives are:
above the waterline will provide the extra buoyancy required.

Reserve buoyancy is defined as

1) Adequate reserve buoyancy (weather conditions
the volume of the enclosed and sea state)
spaces above the waterline. 2) Safe working platform for the crew (the freeboard
It may be expressed as a volume is prepared on the basis of
or as a percentage of the total deck wetness principle)
volume of the vessel.


Loadline marked on the ship’s sides
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Samuel Plimsoll International Load Line Convention 1966

 Came into force 1 July 1968

 Applies to ( Article 4 & 5) ships
in international traffic
with a length of 24 m and more
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 Article 5 : Exceptions International Load Line Convention 1966

Contents:
(1) The present Convention shall not apply to :
a) ships of war
b) new ships of less than 24 metres in length Articles of the Convention
c) existing ships of less than 150 tons gross
Annex I – Regulations for determining Load Lines
d) pleasure yachts not engaged in trade
e) fishing vessels Chapter I: General
(2) Nothing herein shall apply to ships solely navigating: Chapter II: Assignment of freeboard
a) the Great Lakes of North America and the River St. Lawrence
as far east as a rhumb line drawn from Cap des Rosiers to West Chapter III: Freeboards
Point, Anticosti Island, and, on the north side of Anticosti Island,
the meridian of longtitude 63° W Chapter IV: Timber freeboard
b) the Caspian Sea
Annex II – Zones, areas and seasonal periods
c) the Plate, Parana and Uruguay Rivers as far east as a rhumb line
drawn between Punta Norte, Argentina, and Punta del Este, Annex III – Certificates
Uruguay
Recommendations
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Regulations for determining Load Lines International Load Line Convention 1966
CHAPTER I. GENERAL

The Regulations assume that the nature and stowage of the cargo,
ballast, etc., are such as to: -----”the Regulations also
a) secure sufficient stability of the ship, and assume that international
b) avoid excessive structural stress requirements relating to
stability or subdivision
are complied with”------
The Regulations also
assume that international That means, of course, also
requirements relating to operational regulations!
stability or subdivision are
complied with.
Herald of free Enterprise (1987)

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International Load Line Convention 1966 Freeboard : The freeboard assigned is the distance measured vertically
downwards amidships from the upper edge of the deck line
to the upper edge of the related load line.

Freeboard Deck
The freeboard deck is normally the uppermost complete deck exposed to weather and
The Regulations sea, which has permanent means of closing all openings in the weather part thereof,
and below which all openings in the sides of the ship are fitted with permanent means
concerning hatch of watertight closing.
cover tightness
and the quality
requirement of
gaskets also must
be complied with!

A lower deck may be designated as the freeboard deck provided it is a complete and
permanent deck continuous in a fore and aft direction at least between the machinery
space and peak bulkheads and continuous athwartships.
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 Superstructure Weathertight
A superstructure is defined as a decked structure on the freeboard deck extending Water shall not penetrate into the ship in any sea condition.
from side to side or with the side plating not being set in more than 4% of B Weathertight fittings shall withstand water pressure from the
(the breadth) from the shipside. outside (be “watertight" from the outside).

Note: Windows are not allowed to be

fitted in superstructures. Only
side scuttles with inside hinged
Watertight
deadlights are allowed. Shall withstand water pressure from both sides of the fitting.
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INITIAL REPORT
Load line survey to be stored onboard

 INITIAL survey the REPORT to be

 ANNUAL survey
which will make it easier
stored onboard
for the surveyor to ensure
that no alterations have
to be done within 3 been made
months before or
after anniversary date

 RENEWAL survey before the expiry

date (the certificate
is valid for 5 years)
Given RECOMMENDATIONS shall be dealt with within 3months
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Article 12: Submersion

ANNUAL (periodical inspection) load line survey
Fresh Water Allowance
1. Ensure that no alterations have been made
2. Check the maintenance and condition of:
a) Protection of openings
b) Guard rails and bulwarks
c) Freeing ports ICLL Reg 40: Fresh water allowance: Δ/40T cm deduction from the
d) Means of access to crew’s quarters summer (salt water) load line
Δ = displacement (tonnes) at the summer load waterline
T = tonnes/cm immersion at the summer load waterline
The annual survey shall be endorsed on the If the displacement at the summer load waterline
International Load Line Certificate cannot be certified, the deduction shall be 1/48 of
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the summer loadline draft

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 Regulation 32: Correction for Position
of Deck Line

The upper edge of the deck line from

which these freeboards are measured
is…… mm above/under deck at side.

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Article 6 : Exemptions ILLC port state control (article 21)

a) Ships on international voyages between the near Ships are subject to port state control, to
neighboring ports of two (or more) states verifying that there is on board a valid
b) Ships which embodies features of a novel kind Load Line Certificate.
If there is a valid Certificate on board the
c) Ships in single international voyages (only in ship,such control shall be limited to the
exceptional circumstances) purpose of determining that

a) the ship is not over loaded

When exemptions are granted the National
b) the position of the load line mark
Administration shall (Article 16) issue an
corresponds with the certificate
INTERNATIONAL EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE
c) the ship has not been so materially
and communicate to IMO the particulars and reasons.
altered in respect of the matters set
IMO shall circulate to the out in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of
members for information paragraph (3) of Article 19 that the ship is
unfit to proceed to sea without danger
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Hydrostatic Pressure
REGULATION 1 Diagram Hydrostatic Pressure Diagram
p = water·g·d (N)

The structural A ship which is designed, constructed F = p·A (Nm)

strength of the ship and maintained in compliance with the
shall be adequate requirements of a recognised Classification
for the draught Society may be considered to provide an d
corresponding to acceptable level of strength.
the freeboard
assigned

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 Not only designed to avoid excessive stress,
HULL DEFORMATION by racking but also operated in such a way - - - -
in heavy weather
A ship is not allowed to be loaded beyond the
limits specified in its Load Line Certificate

End hole trimming to exceed the maximum cargo capacity, when loading
to the mark, will result in overloading beyond limits and an increase of
both local and global stress levels

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Regulation 10 Information to be supplied to the Master Regulation 6: Lines to be used with the Load Line Mark

The master shall be supplied

with sufficient information,
in an approved form, to
enable him to arrange for the
loading and ballasting of his ship
in such a way as to avoid the
creation of any unacceptable
stresses in the ship's structure.

This requirement need not

apply where the Administration
considers it to be unnecessary.
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Annex II: Zones, areas and seasonal periods Draught marks

The ship’s draft is the vertical distance from the keel to the load line concerned.

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 There shall be draft marks fore, aft and
Draught marks amidships on both starboard and port side Regulation 8: Details of Marking
The ring, lines and letters shall be painted in white or yellow on
a dark ground or in black on a light ground. They shall
also be permanently marked on the sides of the ships to the
satisfaction of the Administration. The marks shall be
plainly visible and, if necessary, special arrangements shall
be made for this purpose:
The marks shall be:
Cut, or
punched, or
welded, or
double plate

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Annex I, Chapter II, Regulation 10 - 26: 1. Weather tight doors

CONDITIONS OF ASSIGNMENT OF FREEBOARD 2. Side scuttles and windows
3. Smaller hatches
4. Ventilators
5. Air pipes
6. Scuppers and sanitary discharges
7. Garbage chutes
8. Sea inlets and outlets with closing
arrangements
9. Freeing ports arrangement
10. Open rails and bulwarks
11. Gangway, passageway, life lines,
under deck passage
Items to be shown on the
12. Timber deck-cargo fittings
Freeboard Plan 13. Cargo hatchways
14. Ports in sides, bow and stern
15. Strength calculations
Many details on board a ship are related to the freeboard issues 16. Stability calculations
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Closing arrangements on a weathertight door

Door closing
arrangements on a
weathertight door

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 Regulation 13 Position of Hatchways, Doorways and Ventilators Regulation 15 and 16

Upon exposed freeboard and raised quarter decks, and upon exposed
Position 1 superstructure decks situated forward of a point located a quarter of
the ship's length from the forward perpendicular.
Position 2 Upon exposed superstructure decks situated abaft a quarter of the
ship's length from the forward perpendicular.
Hatchways at position 1 and 2 shall be closed by weathertight
covers of steel or other equivalent material, fitted with gaskets
and clamping devices.

Both for small hatches and large hatchways the coaming

height shall be:
Position 1: 600 mm
37 38 Position 2: 450 mm

Regulation 14, 15, 16 Hatchway covers

Hatchways closed by weathertight covers of steel or other Survey of hatch covers
equivalent material fitted with gaskets and clamping devices

Weathertight covers shall in general be calculated with assumed loads not less than 3,5 metric tons per
m2 on hatchways in position 1, and not less than 2,6 metric tons per m2 on hatchways in position 2.
The product of the maximum stress, thus calculated, and the factor of 1,25 shall not exceed the
minimum upper yield point strength of the material.
They shall be so designed as to limit the deflection to not more than 0.0056 times the span under
these loads. Mild steel plating forming the tops of covers shall be not less in thickness than one per
cent of the spacing of stiffeners or 6 millimetres.
5,0 t/m2
2,6 t/m2 3,5 t/m2

Means for securing and maintaining weathertightness shall ensure that the tightness can be maintained
in any sea conditions, and for this purpose tests for tightness shall be required at the initial survey,
and may be required at periodical surveys and at annual inspections or at more frequent intervals.
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Support in case of container or another Experience from a

Port State control
heavy load on the hatch cover

Hatchway side coaming

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 Reg 19: VENTILATORS on freeboard and
superstructure decks Ventilator heads

Requirements for coaming heights and closing For cargo holds For store rooms
appliances in position 1 and position 2

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Regulation 20: Air Pipes

Regulation 20:
Air Pipes

Where air pipes to ballast and other tanks extend above the freeboard or
superstructure decks, the exposed parts of the pipes shall be of substantial
construction; the height from the deck to the point where water may have
access below shall be at least 760 millimetres on the freeboard
deck and 450 millimetres on the superstructure deck.
Satisfactory means permanently attached, shall be provided for closing the
openings of the air pipes
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Closing appliances, windows

Sealing to be renewed if the

window is renewed
Testing of rubber seal for
ageing , tightness test by
means of water and jet
pipe.
Air Pipe Head
Glass pane

Function testing of the

closing mechanism

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 Closing appliances, bull's eyes Regulation 25: Protection of the crew

Checking of
the rubber
seal, tightness
test by means
of water and
jet pipe

Guard Rails/ Bulwarks

Checking of the availability of the Function testing of the closing

storm blinder mechanism

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Simplified checklist for load line survey Simplified checklist for load line survey

1. Documents: Approved stability documents 1. Documents: Approved stability documents

Initial loadline survey report
Initial loadline survey report Load line certificate
Load line certificate Changes affecting the above

Changes affecting the above 2. Freeboard marks: Position of marks

2. Freeboard marks: Position of marks
Seasonal allowances etc. in accordance with
Seasonal allowances etc. in accordance with certificate certificate
Draught marks, if fitted
Draught marks, if fitted
3. Hull: Damages, corrosion, cracks

4. Hatch covers: Coaming heights

3. Hull: Damages, corrosion, cracks
Gaskets
Corrosion, cracks damages 4. Hatch covers: Coaming heights
Clamping devices Gaskets
Tightness test Corrosion, cracks damages
Clamping devices
5. Others: a) Doors, hatches: 1. Clamping devices 2. Sill heights 3. Gaskets Tightness test
b) Ventilators: 1. Coamings 2. Supports 3. Weather tightness
c) Air pipes: 1. Condition 2. Weather tightness 3. Height 5. Others: a) Doors, hatches: 1. Clamping devices 2. Sill heights 3. Gaskets
d) Side scuttles: 1. Condition 2. Tightness b) Ventilators: 1. Coamings 2. Supports 3. Weather tightness
e) Deadlights: 1. Condition 2. Tightness c) Air pipes: 1. Condition 2. Weather tightness 3. Height
f) Freeing ports, scuppers: 1. Condition 2. Operation of valves d) Side scuttles: 1. Condition 2. Tightness
g) Bulwarks, guardrails for the protection of the crew e) Deadlights: 1. Condition 2. Tightness
51 h) Sea inlets and outlets1. valves 52 f) Freeing ports, scuppers: 1. Condition 2. Operation of valves
g) Bulwarks, guardrails for the protection of the crew
h) Sea inlets and outlets1. valves

5. Others: a) Doors, hatches: 1. Clamping devices

Simplified checklist for load line survey 2. Sill heights
3. Gaskets

b) Ventilators: 1. Coamings
1. Documents: Approved stability documents 2. Supports
Initial loadline survey report
Load line certificate
3. Weather tightness
Changes affecting the above
c) Air pipes: 1. Condition
2. Freeboard marks: Position of marks
Seasonal allowances etc. in accordance with certificate
2. Weather tightness
Draught marks, if fitted 3. Height
3. Hull: Damages, corrosion, cracks
d) Side scuttles: 1. Condition
4. Hatch covers: Coaming heights 2. Tightness
Gaskets
e) Deadlights: 1. Condition
Corrosion, cracks damages 2. Tightness
Clamping devices
Tightness test f) Freeing ports, scuppers: 1. Condition
2. Operation of valves
5. Others: a) Doors, hatches: 1. Clamping devices 2. Sill heights 3. Gaskets
b) Ventilators: 1. Coamings 2. Supports 3. Weather tightness
c) Air pipes: 1. Condition 2. Weather tightness 3. Height
g) Bulwarks, guardrails for the protection of the crew
d) Side scuttles: 1. Condition 2. Tightness
e) Deadlights: 1. Condition 2. Tightness h) Sea inlets and outlets: 1. Valves
f) Freeing ports, scuppers: 1. Condition 2. Operation of valves
2. Operation of valves
53 g) Bulwarks, guardrails for the protection of the crew 54
h) Sea inlets and outlets1. valves

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THE PLIMSOLL LINE POEM

Tropical Fresh Summer Lloyd’s Register

Endless summer, far Quiet season, warm Lloyd’s Register marks
from sea, gives thinner water. and kindly - no My ship’s safety. Bulwark
waves attack. for seamen from death.
Deepest mark of all. Less freeboard
needed. Douglas Lindsay
Tropical (From BOW WAVE 313/2005)

The calm of heat-haze Winter

stills waves through all seasons.
Deeper loading safe.
Fresh
No salt density
on enclosed waters; summer,
winter, deep is safe.
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The wrath of winter
scowls, drives down.
Pitiless storms
threaten. Need decks
up.
Winter North Atlantic
Storming beast runs
free on Western
Ocean. Tiny Chips of
steel struggle.

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