Unit 5

Ship Measurement

Objectives of Unit 5
5.1 Ship characteristics
5.2 Dimensions
5.3 Binomials
Self-assessment test
Progress test
Answers to self-assessment test
Bibliography/Webography
OBJECTIVES OF UNIT 5

The main objectives are:

 understand what ship’s displacement is
 name weights and volumes
 use different types of tonnage
 Identify the binominals and explain them

5.1 Ship characteristics

Tonnage

The tonnage of a vessel indicates the measurement of her weight, size or capacity.
A very common way of measuring a vessel is by means of a displacement-indication.
Merchant vessels are also measured by their gross tonnage or deadweight tonnage.

Displacement
By displacement is understood the amount of water that is "displaced" by the body of the vessel as

she is floating in the water.

Displacement is indicated by the word "ton" ( or "tonne").
According to Archimedes' Principle a vessel displaces a weight of water that is equal to its own
weight. Therefore a vessel will experience an upthrust that is equal to the weight of the displaced
mass of water.
So, by displacement is understood the total weight of the vessel and her contents, or the weight of
the displaced water mass.
A vessel will float when buoyancy (B) is equal to gravity (G).
So, when buoyancy is less than gravity, the vessel will sink.
When buoyancy is greater than gravity, the vessel will fly.
Therefore "G" cannot possibly be less than B.
Weights and volumes
Manners are often confused as to the exact meaning of the word "ton", because it may
indicate weight, but it may also indicate volume.
As a weight 1 ton equals 1000 kg. The "long ton" equals 1016 kg. The obsolete "short ton"
equals 907 kg.
As a volume 1 ton equals one cubic metre, or, according to the English avoirdupois-system
(avdp), 1 ton equals 2.83 cubic metres, which is equal to 100 cubic feet.
Since "volume" is a very important aspect in mercantile affairs, merchant ships are often
measured by volume, contrary to warships, which are measured by displacement, which
indicates weight.
We distinguish several kinds of tonnages.
Gross Register Tonnage = the entire volume of the enclosed spaces of the vessel that can be
used for cargo, stores and accommodation.
Net Tonnage = volume that can be used to carry cargo. It is calculated by deducting the
spaces that are not used for cargo from the gross tonnage.
Net tonnage is often used to calculate harbour dues that must be paid to municipal port
authorities for the use of all the port facilities.
Deadweight Tonnage = the weight of all the contents a vessel is capable of carrying when
loaded to summer mark. The contents of a merchant vessel are cargo, stores, equipment, fresh
water, potable water, lubricating oil and fuel.
By Cargo Carrying Capacity is understood the amount of cargo that a vessel is capable of
carrying.

Cargo spaces
By Bale Space is meant the volume of the cargo holds that can be used to carry general cargo.
By Grain Space is understood the volume of the cargo holds that can be used to carry dry
bulk cargo.
By Oil Space is understood 98% of the total volume of the wet bulk tanks.
The remaining 2% are used as ullage. This is the empty space on top of the liquid level that
will prevent a tank from overflowing when the oil expands due to heat.

5.2 Dimensions

Moulded Breadth
By moulded breadth is understood the horizontal distance between the insides of the moulds.
In other words, it is the inside breadth (or width) of the vessel.
It is used to determine the vessel's cargo carrying capacity in relation to her stability.

Moulded Depth
By moulded depth is understood the vertical distance between the insides of the moulds
(including the double bottom). It indicates the inside height of the vessel. It is used to
determine the vessel's cargo carrying capacity in relation to her stability.
Beam
By beam is understood the extreme breadth of the vessel. In restricted, narrow fairways (e.g. the
Panama Canal) the vessel's beam is an important factor to obtain a clearance to proceed.

Length Over All (L.O.A.).

By Length over all (A - B) is understood the distance between the extreme fore-end and the
extreme

aft-end of the vessel. Before a berth along an embankment is allocated, the port authorities will
have to know the total length of the ship.

Length Between Perpendiculars (LPP)

Length Between Perpendiculars (C - D) is measured between the fore-perpendicular (FPP)
and the aft-perpendicular (APP). It is used to determine the vessel's stability.
The Construction Waterline is the line to which the ship may be loaded in summer.
The fore-perpendicular is the vertical line through the point where the Construction Waterline
and the stem intersect. The aft perpendicular goes through the rudderstock.

Draft, air draft, freeboard and underkeel clearance

By draft is understood the distance from the bottom of the keel to the surface of the water. A
distinction must be made between loaded draft and light draft, as well as salt-water draft and
fresh-water draft.
Due to the salinity of seawater, the draft in seawater is less than draft in fresh- water, because
seawater has a higher specific gravity.
By air draft is understood the distance from the waterline to the highest point of the vessel.
When proceeding through a channel that is spanned by a bridge, the air draft should of
course be less than the vertical clearance of the bridge. When a vessel's air draft is greater
than the vertical clearance will allow, we speak of a top-hampered vessel.
By Freeboard is understood the distance between deck line and waterline.
By Underkeel Clearance (UKC) is understood the distance between keel and seabed.

5.3 Binomials

Binomials are expressions (often idiomatic) where two words are joined by a conjunction
(usually 'and'). The order of the words is usually fixed. It is best to use them only in informal
situations, with one or two exceptions.
odds and ends: small, unimportant things, e.g. Let's get the main things packed; we can do the
odds and ends later,
give and take: a spirit of compromise, e.g. Every relationship needs a bit of give and take to
be successful.

You can often tell something is a binomial because of the sound pattern.
Tears are part and parcel of growing up. [part of / belong to]
The boss was ranting and raving at us. [shouting / very angry]
The old cottage has gone to rack and ruin, [ruined/decayed]
He's so prim and proper at work, [rather formal and fussy]
The hotel was a bit rough and ready, [poor standard]
She has to wine and dine important clients, [entertain]

Other times, the clue is that the words are near-synonyms.

You can pick and choose; it's up to you. [have a wide choice]
My English is progressing in leaps and bounds, [big jumps]
It's nice to have some peace and quiet, [peace/calm]
The doctor recommended some rest and recreation, [relaxation]
First and foremost, you must work hard, [first / most importantly]

Many grammar words combine to form binomials.

There are cafes here and there, [scattered round]
We've had meetings on and off. [occasionally]
I've been running back and forth all day. [to and from somewhere]
To and fro can be used just like back and forth.
He is unemployed and down and out. [without a home or money]
She's better now, and out and about again, [going out]
She ran up and down the street, [in both directions]

Exercise. Identify the binomials and explain their meaning:

A black and white film, please.
Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please!
She ran back and forth.
There was hot and cold water in every room.
Self-assessment Test
Match the two columns:
Draft the entire volume of the enclosed spaces
of the vessel
Freeboard the distance from the bottom of the keel to
to the surface of the water
Length over all extreme breadth of the vessel
Ullage empty space on top of the liquid level
Gross register tonnage distance between deck line and waterline.
Beam distance between the extreme fore-end and
the extreme aft-end of the vessel.

Progress test
Here are some jumbled binomials. Using similarities in sound, join
them with and. Then check opposite or in a dictionary that you have
the word order right, and that you know the meaning.
prim dine high ruin
rough dry rack ready
proper sound sate wine
Now use them to fill the gaps in these sentences.
1.I was left … and … with no-one to help me.
2.The room's a bit… and …, but you're welcome to stay as long as
you like.
3.I'm glad you're… and … after such a dangerous journey.
4.My hosts… and … me at the best restaurants.
5.Our old house in the country has just gone to … and ….; nobody
looks after it now.
6.The secretary is always so terribly … and ...; the whole
atmosphere always seems so very formal.

Answers to self-assessment test

Match the two columns:
Draft the distance from the bottom of the keel to
to the surface of the water
Freeboard distance between deck line and waterline.
Length over all distance between the extreme fore-end and
the extreme aft-end of the vessel.
Ullage empty space on top of the liquid level
Gross register tonnage the entire volume of the enclosed spaces
of the vessel
Beam extreme breadth of the vessel
Bibliography / Webography
1. Van Kluijven, P.C. – The International Maritime Language
Programme, Alk & Heijnen Publishers, Alkmaar, 2005.
2. Logie, Vivers, Nisbet Marlins Study Pack 2 (book and two audio
cassettes). Edinburgh, Marlins, 1998 (ISBN 09531748 1 6)
3. Murphy, R. Essential Grammar In Use. 1st ed. Cambridge,
Cambridge University Press, 1990 (ISBN 0 521 35770 5)
4. http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/vocabulary/