4 Loadline PDF

LOADLINES AND DRAFT
MARKINGS
CAPT. JEEVAN JOSE
WHAT IS
LOADLINE
Load line is a special
marking positioned
amidships which
represent the draft
of the vessel and the
maximum permitted
limit in distinct types
of waters to which
the ship can be
loaded.
Purpose and Necessity of Load Lines
•Prevent merchant ships from being overloaded
•allow a maximum legal limit up to which a ship can be loaded
•the risk of having the vessel sailing with inadequate freeboard and buoyancy can be limited
Understanding Load Line Marks And
Types
As we have already defined above, the Load Line is a special marking positioned amidships. All
vessels of 24 meters and more are required to have this Load line marking at the centre position
of the length of the summer load waterline.
1. Standard Load Line marking – This applies to all types of vessels.
2.Timber Load Line Markings – This applies to vessels carrying timber cargo.
LOADLINES
These marks shall be punched on the hull’s
surface, making it visible even if the paint on
the side of the ship fades out. The marks shall
again be painted white or yellow on a dark
background/black on a light background. The
complete Load line markings consist of 3 vital
parts.
1.Deck Line is a horizontal line measuring
300mm by 25mm. It passes through the upper
surface of the freeboard.
DECK LINE
But why do we have the deck line ? What is its significance ?
When we say "freeboard", from what point we need to measure the freeboard ?
Can we say we should measure the freeboard from the top most point of the
side plating ? If it was so, I as the owner can increase the fish plate height and
will be able to load more cargo. Does increasing the height of the fish plate
make the ship more seaworthy ? Absolutely not.
So here the Deck line comes into picture.

DECK LINE
The deck line is a horizontal line marked amidships on each side of the ship. Its
upper edge shall normally pass through the point where the continuation outwards
of the upper surface of the freeboard deck intersects the outer surface of the shell
plating.
In Simple words, Deck line is line from where freeboard is measure and is
drawn at a point on midship where deck plate meets the side shell plate.
The deck line is fixed and marked when the vessel is built in the yard. It is not
changed during the life of the ship. The deck line marking is 300 mm long and
25 mm in width.
2. PLIMSOL LINE
Load Line Disc is a 300mm diameter and
25mm thick round-shaped disc. A horizontal
line intersects it. The upper edge of the
horizontal line marks the ‘Summer saltwater
line’, also known as the ‘Plimsol Line. (Samuel
Plimsol worked really hard to pass a bill in the
British parliament for minimum freeboard to
maintain for the ships. The words "plimsoll
marks" were derived from his name.)
3. LOADLINES
Load Lines – Load lines are horizontal lines are
extending forward and aft from a vertical line
placed at a distance of 540mm from the centre
of the disc. They measure 230mm by 25mm.
The upper surfaces of the load lines indicate
the maximum depths to which the ships may
be submerged in different seasons and
circumstances.
Why different loadline marks
However, since the buoyancy and immersion of the vessel largely depend on the type of water
and its density, it is not practical to define a standard freeboard limit for the ship at all times. For
this reason, the load line convention has put regulations that divide the world into different
geographical zones, each having a separate prescribed load line.
3. LOADLINES
S – Summer:- It is the primary freeboard line
at the same level as the Plimsoll Line. Other
load lines are marked based on this Summer
freeboard line.
T – Tropical:- It is 1/48th of the summer draft
marked above the Summer load line.
W – Winter:- It is 1/48th of the summer draft
marked below the Summer load line.
WNA – Winter North Atlantic:- It is marked
50mm below the Winter load line. It applies to
voyages in North Atlantic ( above 36 degrees
of latitude) during the winter months.
3. LOADLINES
F – Fresh Water:- It is the summer freshwater
load line. The distance between S and F is the
Fresh Water Allowance (FWA).
TF – Tropical Fresh Water is the freshwater
load line in Tropical. It is marked above the T
at an amount equal to FWA.
Timber Load Line Markings
Ships engaged in the timber deck cargo trade
must have a unique set of Load lines known as
the Timber Load Lines. Such vessels shall
comply with the Code of Safe Practices for
Ships Carrying Timber Deck Cargo in
construction and other requirements
obtaining greater reserve buoyancy and lesser
summer freeboard.
Timber Load Line Markings
Timber cargo vessels will have a second set of Load Lines marked like the standard load lines
positioned 540mm aft of the centre loading disc.
The timber load line’s letter marking is different and prefixed by ‘L’, meaning ‘Lumber’.
LS – Lumber Summer:- Its upper edge marks the summer saltwater timber loading. It is situated
at a specified level above the Plimsol line.
LW – Lumber Winter:- It is 1/36th of the lumber summer draft below LS.
LT – Lumber Tropical:- It is 1/48th of the lumber summer draft above LS.
LWNA – Lumber Winter North Atlantic:- It is at the same level as WNA.
LF – Lumber Freshwater:- It is situated above the LS by an amount equal to FWA.
LTF – Lumber Tropical Fresh Water:- It is positioned above LT by an amount equal to FWA.
READING DRAFT

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LOADLINES AND DRAFT

So here the Deck line comes into picture.

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