TONNAGE

Gross tonnage is calculated by measuring a ship's volume (from keel to funnel, to

the outside of the hull framing) and applying a mathematical formula and is actually
a measurement in cubic capacity.
Gross tonnage (often abbreviated as GT, G.T. or gt) is a unitless index related to a
ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage
The International Tonnage Rules adopted by IMO applies to all ships built on or after
July 18, 1982. Ships built before that date were given 12 years to migrate from their
existing gross register tonnage (GRT) to use of GT and NT [1994].
Gross tonnage is calculated based on "the moulded volume of all enclosed spaces of
the ship" and is used to determine things such as a ship's manning regulations,
safety rules, registration fees, and port dues.
Both GT and NT are obtained by measuring ship's volume and then applying a
mathematical formula. Generally a ship's net tonnage is less by 30% of her gross
tonnage.
Gross tonnage is measured according to the law of the national authority with which
the ship is registered. The measurement is broadly, the capacity in cubic feet of the
spaces within the hull and of the enclosed spaces above the deck available for cargo,
stores, passengers and crew, with certain exceptions, divided by 100. Thus 100
cubic feet of capacity is equivalent to one gross ton. The GT is on decline in India.
The data pulled from the government sources indicate the decline in the national
tonnage from almost 7 million GT to 6.39 million GT.

Net tonnage (NT) is based on a calculation of the volume of all cargo spaces of the
ship. It indicates a vessel's earning space and is a function of the moulded volume of
all cargo spaces of the ship.
A commonly defined measurement system is important; since a ship's registration
fee, harbour dues, safety and manning rules etc., are based on its gross tonnage,
GT, or net tonnage, NT.
Net register tonnage (NT) is the volume of cargo the vessel can carry; i.e., the gross
register tonnage less the volume of spaces that will not hold cargo
(e.g., engine compartment, helmstation, crew spaces, etc., again with differences
depending on which port or country is doing the calculations). It represents the
volume of the ship available for transporting freight or passengers. It was replaced
by net tonnage in 1994, under the Tonnage Measurement convention of 1969.