Candidate’s Name: National ID:

Ports and Maritime Organization

Seafarers' Affairs Directorate
Exam Code: SMSS-1400-01
Subject: Ship stability Date: 08/03/1400
Rank: Second Officer (GT≥500) Time Allowed: 3 Hours
(Pass mark: 55)

Q Refer to longitudinal stability define the following terms:

1 a) Trim
b) Center of flotation or ‘tipping center’
c) Longitudinal metacentric height
d) MCTC

Trim may be considered as the longitudinal equivalent of list. Trim is also known as
‘longitudinal stability’. It is in effect transverse stability turned through 90°. Instead of trim
being measured in degrees it is measured as the difference between the drafts forward and aft.
If difference is zero then the ship is on even keel. If forward draft is greater than aft draft, the
vessel is trimming by the bow. If aft draft is greater than the forward draft, the vessel is
trimming by the stern.
The center of flotation is the center of gravity or centroid of the water-plane area, and is the
point about which a ship heels and trims. It must lie on the longitudinal center line but may be
Each
slightly forward or aft of amidships (from say 3 per cent L forward of amidships for oil tankers
5
to say 3 per cent L aft of amidships for container ships). The center of flotation is also called
Mark
tipping center.
s
The longitudinal metacenter (ML) is the point of intersection between the verticals through
the longitudinal positions of the centers of buoyancy. The vertical distance between the center
of gravity and the longitudinal metacenter (GML) is called the longitudinal metacentric height.
BML is the height of the longitudinal metacenter above the center of buoyancy and is found for
any shape of vessel by the formula: BML= IL / V
IL= the longitudinal second moment of the water plane about the center of flotation
V = the vessel’s volume of displacement

The MCT 1 cm, or MCTC, is the moment required to change trim by 1 cm, and may be
calculated by using the formula: MCTC= W x GML / 100L
W the vessel's displacement in tonnes, GML= the longitudinal metacentric height in meters
L = the vessel's length in metres.

Ref: Ship Stability for Masters and Mates, D.R. Derrett, pages.143

Q A ship of 16,000t displacement, KG=8.6m, KM=9.2m is listed 4 degrees to stbd. 600t of

2 cargo is to be loaded in no.3 upper tween deck, Kg=10.2m & vessel is to complete upright.
Space is available for 300t in the square of hatch (i.e. on the centerline) & the remainder
20
is to be stowed in the wings with center of gravity of 7.0m to port & 10.0m to stbd.
mark
Calculate how much cargo to load in each wing?
s
Tang 4= GG1/0.6 GG1=0.042m
7w=3672-10w w=216 t to stbd , w= 84 t to port
Q A ship, which is completing loading, has drafts of 7.58m forward and 7.72m aft. Her
3 M.C.T. C is 1l8 t/m. 360 tonnes of cargo remain to be loaded and this is to be distributed
between No.l hold (45 m forward of C.F and No.4 hold (25m abaft C.F). How much cargo
should there be loaded in each hold in order to finish with a trim of. 50 cm by the stem?

20
mark
s

Ref: MERCHANT SHIP STABILTY by Pursy, page.108

Q A ship is loading in an upriver port, where the density of the water is l'006 t/m3. Her
4 present freeboards are 1832m n on the Port side and 1978 mm on the Starboard side. Her
statutory summer freeboard is 1856 mm; Fresh water allowance is 148 mm; and her
T.P.C. is 18.62 t. On the voyage down river, she is expected to use 24 tonnes of fuel and 5 20
tonnes of stores and fresh water. Find how much more cargo she can load to be at her mark
summer load line in salt water? s
 Ref: MERCHANT SHIP STABILITY, BY H. J. PURSE, page.40

Q A ship of 6000 tonnes displacement has KG = 6 m and KM = 7.33 m. The following cargo
5 is loaded: 1000 tonnes KG 2.5 m, 500 tonnes KG 3.5 m, 750 tonnes KG 9.0 m. The
following is then discharged: 450 tonnes of cargo KG 0.6 m, 800 tonnes of cargo KG 3.0
m. Find the final GM? 20
mark
s
Ref: Ship Stability for Masters and Mates, D.R. Derrett, pages.119

Good Luck