1.

Centre of Gravity (G) and

Centre of Buoyancy (B)
1.1 Introduction

1.2 Centre of gravity (G)

1.2.1 Centre of gravity defined
1.2.2 The effect of shifting a weight already on board
1.2.3 The effect of loading a weight
1.2.4 The effect of discharging a weight

1.3 Multiple weight problems

1.4 Centre of buoyancy (B)

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022
1.1 Introduction
The practice of good seamanship dictates that a ship should be upright when
proceeding to sea. This means that the centre of gravity (G) of the ship should be
on the centreline.

At sea the ship will be heeled to some extent by wind and waves. Figure 1.1 shows
a ship heeled by external forces.

Fig. 1.1 – A stable ship heeled by external forces.

The centre of buoyancy (B) is also shown which corresponds to the centroid of the
underwater volume of the ship at a particular instant in time.

The centre of gravity of the whole ship is the point of application of the weight force
(Wf) acting vertically downwards. The centre of buoyancy is at the geometric centre
of the underwater volume at a particular instant and is the point of application of
the buoyancy force (Bf) acting vertically upwards.

The ability of the ship to return to the upright condition is primarily governed by the
relative positions of G and B when the ship is in the heeled condition. The ship in
figure 1.1 will return to the upright on removal of the external heeling force. The
ship is in a stable condition.

Knowledge of the relative positions of G and B at specific angles of heel for a given
displacement permit the transverse stability of the ship to be assessed.

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
In this section, we consider the vertical position of the ship’s centre of gravity (G)
and how its position changes when weights are shifted, loaded and discharged.
Factors influencing the position of the centre of buoyancy (B) are also discussed.

1.2 Centre of gravity (G)

If a ship is loaded in such a way that it is ‘top heavy’ it will be unstable and will not
remain upright. The height of the centre of gravity of the ship is very important.

1.2.1 Centre of gravity defined

The centre of gravity (G) of a ship may be defined as being the point where the
total weight force (Wf) of the ship is considered to act vertically downwards.

The position of G will depend on how the lightweight structure of the ship is
distributed and the location of all weights on board.

Provided weights within the ship are properly secured, the position of G is assumed
to not move as the ship heels. If the ship heels excessively cargo lashings may give
way causing cargo to shift; bulk cargo may also shift.

Weight force (Wf) always acts vertically downwards, irrespective of how far over
the ship is heeled!

Fig. 1.2 – Weight force (Wf) always acts vertically downwards.

When weights are shifted on board, loaded or discharged G will move. Whenever G
is caused to move the ‘shift of G’ must be calculated.

The position of the centre of gravity of a ship is the most influential factor in
determining its stability characteristics. The officer in charge of loading the ship

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
must be fully conversant with the way that G moves when shifting, loading and
discharging weights.

The vertical position of G is expressed in terms of metres above the keel (KG).

The vertical position of the centre of gravity of a weight on board is also expressed
in terms of metres above the keel (Kg).

1.2.2 The effect of shifting a weight already on board

Whenever a weight already on board is shifted, G will move parallel to and in the
same direction as the shift of the centre of gravity of the weight (g). Figure 1.3
shows the effect of moving a weight from the lower hold vertically upwards to the
upper deck hatch top.

Fig. 1.3 - The effect of shifting a weight already on board.

The shift of G is calculated by the formula:

GGV = w × d
W

where: w is the weight shifted;

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
 d is the distance through which the weight is shifted vertically, and;

W is the ship’s displacement, which includes the weight being shifted.

In this instance GGV is a shift of G upwards; KG increases which would cause the ship
to become less stable.

Example 1
A ship displaces 5000 tonnes and has initial KG of 4.50 m. Calculate the final KG if a
weight of 20 tonnes is moved vertically upwards from the lower hold (Kg 2.00 m) to
the upper deck (Kg 6.50 m).

Solution
GGV = w × d = 20 × (6.5 - 2.0) = 0.018 m
W 5000

Initial KG 4.500 m
GGv up 0.018 m
FINAL KG 4.518 m

Example 2
A ship has displacement 17878 tonnes and initial KG 6.46 m. Calculate the final KG
if a weight of 580 tonnes is moved vertically downwards from a position on deck (Kg
12.82 m) to the lower hold (Kg 4.36 m).

Solution
GGV = w × d = 580 × (12.82 – 4.36) = 0.275 m
W 17878

Initial KG 6.460 m
GGv down 0.275 m
FINAL KG 6.185 m

Example 3
A ship displaces 23500 t and has initial KG of 7.40 m. Calculate the maximum amount
of cargo that can be shifted from the lower hold (Kg 4.00 m) to a position on deck
(Kg 12.00 m) to ensure that the final KG does not exceed 8.00 m.

Solution
Maximum final KG 8.000 m
Initial KG 7.400 m
Allowed rise GGV 0.600 m

GGV = w × d 0.600 = w × (12.0 – 4.00)

W 23500

w = 0.600 × 23500 =1762.5 t

8.0

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
1.2.3 The effect of loading a weight
Whenever a weight is loaded, G will move directly towards the centre of gravity of
the loaded weight (g).

Consider the ship shown where a weight is loaded on deck on one side. G moves to
G1.

Fig. 1.4 – The effect of loading a weight.

For calculation purposes the movement of G to G1 is considered to have two

components:

GGV: a vertical component, and; GGH: a horizontal component.

Fig. 1.5 – Vertical and horizontal components of the movement of G.

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
At this stage, it is only the vertical component of the shift of G that is to be
considered, since only this component will affect the KG.

In figure 1.6 the KG of the ship will increase making the ship less stable.

Fig. 1.6 - Loading a weight; note that ‘d’ is NOT the Kg of the weight!

The vertical component of the shift of G is calculated by the formula:

GGV = w × d
W+w

where: w is the weight loaded;

d is the vertical distance between G of the ship and g of the loaded

weight, and;

W is the ship’s initial displacement.

Note
A common mistake in using this formula is to use the initial KG of the ship or the Kg
of the loaded weight instead of d! Also note that the displacement increases because
a weight is loaded, hence: 'W + w' in the formula!

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
Example 4
A ship displaces 12500 tonnes and has initial KG of 6.50 m. Calculate the final KG if
1000 tonnes of cargo is loaded into the lower hold at Kg 3.00 m.

Solution
GGv = w × d = 1000 × (6.5 - 3.0) = 0.259 m
W+w 12500 + 1000

Initial KG 6.500 m
GGv down 0.259 m
FINAL KG 6.241 m

The weight is loaded below the ship’s centre of gravity causing KG to decrease!

Example 5
A ship displaces 17200 tonnes and has initial KG of 8.40 m. Calculate the final KG if
1400 tonnes of cargo is loaded onto the main deck at Kg 10.50 m.

Solution
GGv = w × d = 1400 × (10.5 - 8.4) = 0.158 m
W+w 17200 + 1400

Initial KG 8.400 m
GGv up 0.158 m
FINAL KG 8.558 m

The weight is loaded above the ship’s centre of gravity causing KG to increase!

Example 6
A ship has displacement 12560 tonnes and KG 7.92 m. Calculate the maximum
amount of deck cargo that can be loaded at Kg. 12.60 m to ensure that the final KG
does not exceed 8.10 m.

Solution
Maximum final KG 8.100 m
Initial KG 7.920 m
Maximum rise of G (GGv) 0.180 m

GGv = w × d
W+w

0.180 = w × (12.60 – 7.92)

12560 + w

0.18(12560 + w) = 4.68w

2260.80 + 0.18w = 4.68w

2260.80 = 4.68w – 0.18w

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
 2260.80 = 4.5w 2260.80 = w
4.5

w = 502.4 t

Example 7
A ship has displacement 19600 tonnes and KG 6.84 m. 240 tonnes of cargo remains
to be loaded. Calculate the maximum height above the keel that the cargo can be
loaded to ensure that the ship sails with a KG not exceeding 6.90 m.

Solution
Maximum final KG 6.900 m
Initial KG 6.840 m
Maximum rise of G (GGv) 0.060 m

GGv = w × d
W+w

0.06 = 240 × d 0.06 = 240 × d

19600 + 240 19840

0.06 × 19840 = 240 d

1190.4 = 240d 1190.4 = d

240

d = 4.960 m which represents the distance between the centre of gravity of the ship
(6.84 m) and the centre of gravity of the weight to be loaded. Since G is permitted
to rise, then the weight should not be loaded higher than:

4.960 + 6.840 = 11.800 m above the keel.

Maximum Kg of weight = 11.800 m

1.2.4 The effect of discharging a weight

Whenever a weight is discharged, G will move directly away from the centre of
gravity of the discharged weight (g).

Consider the ship shown where a weight is discharged from the upper deck. G moves
to G1.

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
 Fig. 1.7 – The effect of discharging a weight.

In this case the KG of the ship will decrease.

The vertical component of the shift of G is calculated by the formula:

GGV = w × d
W-w

where: w is the weight discharged;

d is the vertical distance between G of the ship and g of the discharged

weight, and;

W is the ship’s initial displacement.

See figure 1.8.

Remember that it is only the vertical component of shift that is being considered at
this stage.

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
 Fig. 1.8 - Again; note ‘d’ above!

Example 8
A ship has displacement 13400 tonnes and initial KG of 4.22 m. 320 tonnes of deck
cargo is discharged from a position Kg 7.14 m. Calculate the final KG of the ship.

Solution
GGv = w × d = 320 × (7.14 - 4.22) = 0.071 m
W-w 13400 - 320

Initial KG 4.220 m
GGv down 0.071 m
FINAL KG 4.149 m

The weight is discharged from a position above the ship’s centre of gravity causing
KG to decrease!

Example 9
A ship displaces 18000 tonnes and has initial KG of 5.30 m. Calculate the final KG if
10000 tonnes of cargo is discharged from the lower hold (Kg 3.00 m).

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
Solution
GGv = w × d = 10000 × (5.3 - 3.0) = 2.875 m
W-w 18000 - 10000

Initial KG 5.300 m
GGv up 2.875 m
FINAL KG 8.175 m

The weight is discharged from a position below the ship’s centre of gravity causing
KG to increase!

Example 10
A ship has displacement 14000 tonnes and KG of 6.64 m. Calculate the maximum
amount of cargo in the lower hold (Kg 3.20 m) that can be discharged to ensure that
the final KG does not exceed 6.80 m.

Solution
Maximum final KG 6.800 m
Initial KG 6.640 m
Maximum rise of G (GGv) 0.160 m

GGv = w × d
W-w

0.16 = w × (6.64 –3.20)

14000 - w

0.16(14000 - w) = 3.44w

2240 – 0.16w = 3.44w

2240 = 3.44w + 0.16w

2240 = 3.6w 2240 = w

3.6
w = 622.2 t

The maximum amount to discharge from the lower hold is 622.2 t.

1.3 Multiple weight problems

It would be tedious to do a calculation for every single weight that is shifted, loaded,
or discharged from the ship.

In practice, ‘moments about the keel’ are taken to determine the final KG of the
ship, where:

MOMENTS (t.m) = WEIGHT (t)  DISTANCE (m)

If a ship is considered, then:

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
 MOMENTS = DISPLACEMENT  KG
Therefore:
FINAL KG (m) = Σ MOMENTS (t.m)
FINAL DISPLACEMENT (t)

(Σ = Sum)

When a number of weights are shifted, loaded or discharged, the moments for each
weight are calculated. These are summed and simply divided by the final
displacement of the ship to give the final KG.

A tabular approach is adopted and the method is easily illustrated by way of an

example. One important point to note is that the first weight to be entered into the
table is that of the ship’s initial displacement along with the ship’s initial KG.

Example 11
A ship displaces 10000 tonnes and has KG of 4.50 m. The following cargo is worked:

Load: 120 t at Kg 6.00 m;

730 t at Kg 3.20 m.

Discharge: 68 t from Kg 2.00 m;

100 t from Kg 6.20 m.

Shift: 86 t from Kg 2.20 m to Kg 6.00 m.

Calculate the final KG.

Solution
Consider the table shown. Each weight is multiplied by its KG to give a moments
value. The sign of this value (+ or -) depends on whether the weight is loaded or
discharged. In the case of the weight that is shifted; this is simply treated as two
separate weights, one that is discharged and another of same weight that is loaded!

Weight (t) KG (m) Moments (t.m)

Ship (+) 10000 4.50 45000
Load (+) 120 6.00 720
Load (+) 730 3.20 2336
Discharge (-) -68 2.00 -136
Discharge (-) -100 6.20 -620
* Discharge (-) -86 2.20 -189
*Load (+) 86 6.00 516
FINAL 10682 4.459 47627

* Represents the weight shifted.

The final KG (4.459 m) is simply found using the formula:

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
 KG (m) = Σ MOMENTS (t.m)
DISPLACEMENT (t)

i.e. 47626.8 = 4.459 m

10682.0

Note
Answers for final KG should be given to 3 decimal places.

In practice, when completing a loading sheet, it is only necessary to list moment

values to the nearest whole number.

This method may be used for single weight problems also, with the advantage being
that the direction of movement of G (either up or down) need not be considered. A
final KG is ‘automatically’ calculated!

To prove this, you should rework the previous single weight examples.

Example 12
A ship displaces 16240 tonnes and has KG of 6.76 m. The following cargo is worked:

Load: 80 t at Kg 6.40 m;
460 t at Kg 3.80 m.

Discharge: 400 t from a position on deck Kg 12.00 m.

Calculate the maximum amount of deck cargo that can be loaded on deck Kg 12.40
m to ensure that the final KG does not exceed 7.00 m.

Solution
Let x = the maximum amount of deck cargo to load for the final KG to not exceed
7.00 m.

Weight (t) KG (m) Moments (t.m)

Ship (+) 16240 6.76 109782
Load (+) 80 6.40 512
Load (+) 460 3.80 1748
Discharge (-) -400 12.00 -4800
Load (+) x 12.40 12.4x
FINAL 16380 + x 7.00 107242 + 12.4x

7.00 = 107242 + 12.4x

16380 + x

7.00(16380 + x) = 107242 + 12.4x

114660 + 7.00x = 107242 + 12.4x

114660 – 107242 = 12.4x – 7.00x

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
 7418 = 5.4x Therefore x = 1373.7 tonnes.

1373.7 tonnes is the MAXIMUM amount to load at Kg 12.4 m to ensure that

the final KG does not exceed 7.00 m.

Example 13
A ship displaces 16240 tonnes and has KG of 6.76 m. The following cargo is worked:

Load: 80 t at Kg 6.40 m;
460 t at Kg 3.80 m.

Discharge: 400 t from a position on deck Kg 12.00 m.

Calculate the maximum Kg that a weight of 1373.7 tonnes can be loaded to ensure
that the final KG does not exceed 7.00 m.

Solution
Let x = the maximum Kg at which to load the cargo for the final KG to not exceed
7.00 m.

Weight (t) KG (m) Moments (t.m)

Ship (+) 16240 6.76 109782
Load (+) 80 6.40 512
Load (+) 460 3.80 1748
Discharge (-) -400 12.00 -4800
Load (+) 1373.7 x 1373.7x
FINAL 17753.7 7.00 107242 + 1373.7x

7.00 = 107242 + 1373.7x

17753.7

7.00(17753.7) = 107242 + 1373.7x

124275.9 = 107242 + 1373.7x

124275.9 - 107242 = 1373.7x

17033.9 = 1373.7x Therefore x = 12.400 m.

12.400 m is the maximum Kg to load the cargo to ensure that the final KG does
not exceed 7.00 m.

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)
1.4 Centre of buoyancy (B)
The centre of buoyancy (B) of a ship is defined as being the geometric centre of the
underwater volume of the ship at a particular instant and is the point through which
the total buoyancy force (Bf) is considered to act vertically upwards.

Fig. 1.9 - Centre of buoyancy (B).

Although the centre of gravity (G) is assumed to remain in the same place as the
ship heels (provided weights do not shift within the ship), the centre of buoyancy
constantly moves as the ship pitches, rolls and heaves.

As the displacement and draught of the ship changes, so will the position of the
centre of buoyancy when the ship is upright. The vertical height of the centre of
buoyancy above the keel is termed the KB, being the vertical distance from the keel
(K) to the centre of buoyancy (B). The value is quoted in a ship’s hydrostatic
particulars for the upright condition and will change with draught and trim.

The longitudinal position (LCB) is also quoted in hydrostatic data.

For a box-shaped vessel on even keel KB is half the draught. KB for a ship will be
above half-draught height because of the bottom curvature of the bilge.

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HR0L 35 1. Centre of Gravity (G) and Centre of Buoyancy (B) (MAR Rev. 26-04-2022)