Stability information

timber deck cargo.

• 2.1 The ship should be supplied with
comprehensive stability information which
takes into account timber deckcargo. Such
information should enable the master, rapidly
and simply, to obtain accurate guidance as to
the stability of the ship under varying
conditions of service. Comprehensive rolling
period tables or diagrams have proved to be a
very useful aid in verifying the actual stability
conditions.
• 2.1 The ship should be supplied with
comprehensive stability information which
takes into account timber deckcargo. Such
information should enable the master, rapidly
and simply, to obtain accurate guidance as to
the stability of the ship under varying
conditions of service. Comprehensive rolling
period tables or diagrams have proved to be a
very useful aid in verifying the actual stability
conditions.
• 2.2 The stability of the ship at all times,
including during the process of loading and
unloading timber deckcargo, should be positive
and to a standard acceptable to the
Administration. It should be calculated having
regard to:􀂋the increased weight of the timber
deckcargo due to:1.absorption of water in dried
or seasoned timber, 2.ice accretion, if
applicable;􀂋variation in consumables;􀂋the free
surface effect of liquid in tanks; and􀂋the weight
of water trapped in broken spaces within the
timber deckcargo and especially logs
• 2.3 The master should:􀂋cease all loading
operations if a list develops forwhich there is
no satisfactory explanation and itwould be
imprudent to continue loading;􀂋before
proceeding to sea, ensure that:1.the ship is
upright2.the ship has an adequate
metacentricheight in bothdeparture and
arrival conditions; 3. the ship meets the
required stability criteria.
• 􀂋Ships carrying timber deck cargoes should
operate, as far as possible, with a safe margin
of stability and with a metacentricheight
which is consistent with safety requirements
􀂋Such metacentricheight should not be
allowed to fall below the recommended
minimum.􀂋However, excessive initial stability
should be avoided as it will result in rapid and
violent motion in heavy seas which will
impose large sliding and racking forces on the
cargo causing high stresses on the lashings.
• 􀂋Operational experience indicates that
metacentricheight should preferably not
exceed 3% of the breadth in order to prevent
excessive accelerations in rolling provided that
the relevant stability criteria are satisfied.
􀂋This recommendation may not apply to all
ships and the master should take into
consideration the stability information
obtained from the ship's stability manual.