10.

Loading a KNOWN weight to

keep the draught aft constant
10.1 Introduction

10.2 Calculating the position to load a KNOWN weight to keep the draught aft
constant
10.2.1 METHOD 1: Taking moments about the AP
10.2.2 METHOD 2: Taking moments about the MEAN LCF

10.3 Summary

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HR0L 35 10. Loading a KNOWN weight to keep the aft draught constant. (MAR 01-05-2022)
10.1 Introduction
Here is a trim question which is relatively easy to calculate but is made awkward by
the syllabus requirement that all trim calculations must be calculated by taking
moments about the aft perpendicular.

Use is made of the SHIP STABILITY DATA SHEETS.

For consistency, the accuracy for answers and extracting hydrostatic values from the
given data shall be as follows:

• Draughts will be calculated to three decimal places e.g., 7.236 m.

• All other hydrostatic data values will be taken and/or calculated to the same
number of decimal places as adopted in the hydrostatic particulars data table,
however, 3 decimal places may be adopted when determining MEAN
hydrostatic data values where appropriate.

• When calculating moments, values will be rounded to the nearest whole

number.

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HR0L 35 10. Loading a KNOWN weight to keep the aft draught constant. (MAR 01-05-2022)
10.2 Calculating the position to load a KNOWN weight
to keep the draught aft constant
Consider figure 10.1 which illustrates the problem.

Fig. 10.1 - Loading a weight to keep the aft draught constant.

TWO approaches to solving this problem are demonstrated.

10.2.1 METHOD 1: Taking moments about the AP

Example
A ship LBP 137.50 m has draughts F 4.240 m A 4.980 m in salt water. 436 tonnes of
deck cargo remain to be loaded.

Calculate:

(a) the position to load the weight to keep the draught aft constant;

(b) the final draught forward.

USE SHIP STABILITY DATA SHEETS

Solution (a)
(1) Calculate initial TMD
AMD = 4.610 m
From data for AMD 4.610 m, LCF = 69.41 m foap

TMD = dA - (dA - dF) × LCF foap

LBP

TMD = 4.98 - 0.74 × 69.41

137.50

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HR0L 35 10. Loading a KNOWN weight to keep the aft draught constant. (MAR 01-05-2022)
 TMD = 4.606 m

(2) Enter data with TMD 4.606 m

Initial Displacement = 9215 t MCTC = 155.2 t.m LCB = 70.93 m foap

(3) Calculate initial LCG

COTFEK = W × (LCB~LCG) 74.0 = 9215 × (LCB~LCG)
MCTC 155.2

(LCB~LCG) = -1.25 m
LCB = 70.93 m foap
Initial LCG = 69.68 m foap

(Ship is trimmed by the stern; do a sketch if required)

(4) Calculate the final displacement and obtain FINAL hydrostatic data
Initial displacement 9215 t
Cargo to load 436 t
Final displacement 9651 t

From data: TMD = 4.806 m MCTC = 157.0 t.m LCB = 70.86 m foap
LCF = 69.29 m foap

(5) Calculate the required FINAL trim to keep the dA constant

Consider the formula for calculating TMD:

TMD = dA - (dA - dF) × LCF foap

LBP

4.806 = 4.98 - (dA - dF) × 69.29 Note that the final dA MUST BE 4.980 m
137.50

Let (dA - dF) = x 4.806 = 4.980 - x × 69.29

137.50

4.806 = 4.980 – 0.504x 0.504x = 4.980 – 4.806

0.504x = 0.174 Required FINAL trim = 0.345 m = 34.5 cm

Note
In the formula for TMD, the expression (dA - dF) is trim, which has been
calculated as being POSITIVE 34.5 cm. The final trim MUST be by the stern!

(6) Calculate the required FINAL LCG for the final trim of 34.5 cm by the stern
using the data for the FINAL DISPLACEMENT
COTFEK = W × (LCB~LCG) 34.5 = 9651 × (LCB~LCG)
MCTC 157.0

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HR0L 35 10. Loading a KNOWN weight to keep the aft draught constant. (MAR 01-05-2022)
 (LCB~LCG) = -0.56 m
LCB = 70.86 m foap
FINAL LCG = 70.30 m foap

(7) Take moments about AP to calculate position to load the 436 tonnes of cargo
Let x = position Lcg to load 436 tonnes

Lcg
Moments
Weight (t) foap
(t.m)
(m)
Initial displ. 9215 69.68 642101
Cargo 436 x 436x
FINAL 9651 70.30 (642101 + 436x)

70.30 = 642101 + 436x x = 83.404 ≈ 83.4 m foap

9651

Cargo is to be loaded in position 83.4 m foap

Solution (b)
To calculate the final draught forward
Data for final displacement: Displacement = 9651 t TMD = 4.806 m
LCF = 69.29 m foap

(1) Apportion final trim to the final TMD

Trim = 34.5 cm by the stern

Ta = 34.5 × 69.29 = 17.4 cm Tf = 34.5 – 17.4 = 17.1 cm

137.50

(2) Calculate final draughts

Fwd Aft
Final TMD 4.806 4.806
Trim -0.171 0.174
Final draughts 4.635 4.980

Final draught forward = 4.635 m

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HR0L 35 10. Loading a KNOWN weight to keep the aft draught constant. (MAR 01-05-2022)
10.2.2 METHOD 2: Taking moments about the MEAN LCF
Consider again figure 10.1 which illustrates the problem.

Fig. 10.1 - Loading a weight to keep the aft draught constant.

If the weight were loaded at the LCF, the vessel will experience uniform sinkage.

In the calculation, the weight is then shifted to a position forward of the LCF in
order that the ship trims by the head to reduce the draught aft back to its original
value.

For the draught aft to remain constant:

Sinkage = Ta

where Ta is the change of draught aft due to trim caused by moving the weight
forward from the LCF.

Therefore: w = COT  LCF

TPC LBP

Thus, to keep the draught aft constant when loading a known weight:

w = w  d  LCF
TPC MCTC LBP

Calculating the distance d will allow the position to load the weight to be
determined.

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HR0L 35 10. Loading a KNOWN weight to keep the aft draught constant. (MAR 01-05-2022)
Note
In the above formula:

• the MEAN TPC must be used IF NOT USING THE DRAUGHT/DISPLACEMENT

VALUES TO CALCULATE SINKAGE (see worked example).

• the Mean MCTC must be used.

• d is the distance from the MEAN LCF where the weight is to be loaded.

• the LCF is that for the FINAL draught.

Example reworked
A ship LBP 137.50 m has draughts F 4.240 m A 4.980 m in salt water. 436 tonnes of
deck cargo remain to be loaded.

Calculate:

(a) the position to load the weight to keep the draught aft constant;

(b) the final draught forward.

USE SHIP STABILITY DATA SHEETS

Solution (a)
(1) Calculate initial TMD
AMD = 4.610 m
From data for AMD 4.610 m, LCF = 69.41 m foap

TMD = dA - (dA - dF) × LCF foap

LBP

TMD = 4.98 - 0.74 × 69.41

137.50

TMD = 4.606 m

(2) Enter data with TMD 4.606 m

Initial Displacement = 9215 t MCTC = 155.2 t.m LCF = 69.42 m foap

(3) Calculate the final displacement and from data obtain hydrostatic data
Initial displacement 9215 t
Cargo to load 436 t
Final displacement 9651 t

From data: TMD = 4.806 m MCTC = 157.0 t.m LCF = 69.29 m foap

(4) Calculate the MEAN values of hydrostatic data

Mean MCTC = 155.2 + 157.0 = 156.10 t.m
2

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HR0L 35 10. Loading a KNOWN weight to keep the aft draught constant. (MAR 01-05-2022)
 Mean LCF = 69.42 + 69.29 = 69.355 m foap
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(5) Calculate the distance d from the FINAL LCF that the weight will be loaded

w = w  dDISTANCE FROM MEAN LCF  LCFFOR FINAL DRAUGHT

TPCMEAN MCTCMEAN LBP

Note
As we have both the initial TMD (4.606 m) and the final TMD (4.806 m), we
do not need to calculate the sinkage using the mean TPC.

Therefore, sinkage = 4.806 – 4.606 = 0.200 m = 20.0 cm

20.0 = 436  d  69.29

156.1 137.50

20.0 = 1.408d d = 14.209 m forward of the MEAN LCF

Therefore, the weight must be loaded: 69.355 + 14.209 = 83.564

≈ 83.6 m foap

Cargo to be loaded in position 83.6 m foap

Solution (b)
To calculate the final draught forward.
The position to load the weight is now known, being 83.6 m foap.

Sinkage = 20.0 cm

COT = w  dFROM MEAN LCF COT = 436  14.209 = 39.7 cm

MCTCMEAN 156.1

Ta = COT  LCFMEAN Ta = 39.7  69.355 = 20.0 cm

LBP 137.50

Tf = COT – Ta Tf = 39.7 – 20.0 = 19.7 cm

Calculate the final draughts.

Fwd Aft
Initial draughts 4.240 4.980
Sinkage 0.200 0.200
4.440 5.180
Trim 0.197 0.200
Final draughts 4.637 *4.980

Final draught forward = 4.637 m

* Required dA to remain constant = 4.980 m so answers acceptable

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HR0L 35 10. Loading a KNOWN weight to keep the aft draught constant. (MAR 01-05-2022)
*Note
Calculating both draughts provides a check on part (a) of the calculation.

10.3 Summary
• METHOD 1 MUST BE USED FOR MCA EXAMINATIONS.

• METHOD 2 gives equally acceptable results provided that the range of

draughts is not excessive, remember that values of TPC, MCTC and LCF when
plotted are NOT linear because of the curved hull form.

• In practice, METHOD 2 will give acceptable results just using the hydrostatic
data for the initial displacement provided the range of draughts concerned is
not excessive. Using mean hydrostatic data values involves excessive working
and is not necessary in practice bearing in mind the wide scope of unknown
errors from other sources that can affect any stability calculation.

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HR0L 35 10. Loading a KNOWN weight to keep the aft draught constant. (MAR 01-05-2022)