Ship Stability: An Introduction HR06 34

TRIM CALCULATIONS

 The Trimming Moment (Trimming Lever x Displacement) is what

causes the ship to trim from even keel.

 The position of LCB and LCG relative to each other is what will
determine how the ship trims i.e. by the head or by the stern.

 The point about which the ship trims is the LCF (like the support point
of a see-saw).

LCB ~ LCG Method

For Trim calculations by LCB ~ LCG method, you are usually asked to
calculate the final draughts after loading and discharging various weights at
various points . The weight and lcg of each parcel of weight will be given.

Because there are various weights being loaded / discharged, the final
displacement will be different from the initial displacement (possibly more,
possibly less). This means that the new mean draught (i.e. TMD -. the
draught at the LCF) will also change. It will either have increased or
decreased. The LCG of the ship will have changed as well. In order to
determine the new displacement and the new LCG you take moments about
the aft perpendicular i.e. you draw up a table of Longitudinal Moments
(LMmts)

However, the first line of this table is always the Initial Displacement (weight)
and initial LCG of the ship. If these pieces of information are not given in the
question, you need to determine what they are before you can complete the
table.

If the Ship is initially Even Keel (i.e. draught for’d = draught aft), then it is
relatively straightforward.

If E.K., then TMD = AMD = for’d draught + aft draught

2

Also, LCB = LCG

(Explanation: If the ship is e.k then there is initially no trimming lever. As the
trimming lever is the longitudinal distance between LCB and LCG, then at e.k.
there must be NO distance between LCB and LCG, so LCB= LCG)

So you calculate your AMD, which is = TMD and for this TMD, you enter the
hydrostatics and determine the Displacement and LCB. These figures are the
ones you use for your initial Displacement and LCG (because LCG =LCB for
ek) in the first line of the table of longitudinal moments.

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Ship Stability: An Introduction HR06 34

Item Weight (T) LCG (m foap) Lmmt (T-m)

DIsplacement Initial W Initial LCG
Load / Disch
Total Weight Total LMmts

You then calculate the new Displacement (by adding up /subtracting weights
as appropriate) and the new LCG by the formula:

LCG = Total LMmts

Total Weight

ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE TABLE AND HAVE YOUR NEW
DISPLACEMENT AND NEW LCG, FORGET ABOUT ALL THE PREVIOUS
FIGURES!!

For your NEW Displacement, enter the hydrostatics again and determine the
new:

 TMD
 MCTC
 LCB
 LCF

You may have to interpolate to obtain these values.

You now have the new TMD, or draught at the LCF. However, you need to
calculate the final draughts, for’d and aft.

Next you need to calculate the change of trim (COT) and then apportion this
total COT to determine the change of trim for’d (tf) and the change of trim aft
(ta).

COT (cm) = Displacement x (LCB ~ LCG)

MCTC

ta (cm) = LCF x COT

LBP

tf (cm)= COT - ta

So now we know the change of trim for’d and the change of trim aft (from
even keel) but we still don’t know which one to add and which one to subtract
i.e. we don’t know if the ship is trimmed by the head or by the stern. In order
to determine this, we have to look at the position of LCB and LCG relative to
each other.

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Ship Stability: An Introduction HR06 34

Bf
G

B
AP
Wf

 If LCG < LCB, ship will be trimmed by the stern (add ta and subtract tf)

Bf
G

B
AP Wf

 If LCG > LCB, ship will be trimmed by the head (add tf and subtract ta)

Finally apply the change of trim for’d and aft to the new TMD to obtain the
final draughts.

For’d Aft

TMD m m
COT m +/- m=/-
Final draughts m m

COCG/MR/HR06 34/LO3&4/TRIM