METACENTRIC HEIGHT(GM)

 This is the distance between the vertical center of gravity

and the transverse metacenter, measured vertically in the
equilibrium position. It is denoted by GM. If GM is
positive then the ship is said to have positive metacentric
stability, that is the ship on inclination to a small angle will
return to is upright position. If it is negative, then the ship is
considered to be unstable and could either capsize or attain a
permanent list when inclined to a small angle.
GM = KM - KG
[KG is determined from the inclining experiment or
weight estimate]
KM = Transverse metacenter from hydrostatic curve at a
given draft and displacement

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 Forces acting to return a stable
ship to its initial upright position.
The righting moment (RM) equals
M
buoyant force ( ) times the
righting arm (GZ).
O

G Z
Buoyancy
Weight = =

B B‘

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 RANGES OF GM FOR SHIP TYPES:

Containers – 1.0-3.0 feet

General Cargo Ships – 1.0-4.0 feet
Warships – 2.0-10.0 feet
Passenger ships – 1.5-3.0 feet
Tankers – 13.0 feet
A measure of good stability in warships is that GM should be a
certain percentage of the beam. In destroyers, for example, this
would be about 10%.
If a ship has a large GM it could have a fast roll period and
probably be uncomfortable for the crew and passengers. The
German battleship Bismarck with a GM of 13 feet was a
uncomfortable ship and the large value of GM made gun laying
more difficult than with a smaller value of GM.

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