Load line is a special marking positioned amidships which depicts the draft of the vessel and the maximum permitted limit in distinct types of waters to which the ship can be loaded.
Also known as the Plimsoll Line, the Load Line is a marking that indicates the extent to which the weight of a load may safely submerge a vessel, by way of a waterline limit.
2.0 Purpose
The Load Line concept emerged in Britain in the 1870s to prevent merchant ships from being overloaded.
As a result of the numerous maritime accidents that have happened at sea due to the overloading of vessels, the significance of having a standard maximum limit for ships was identified long before.
However, it took many years to have an International agreement for the universal application of Load lines.
It was in 1930 when the first International Load Line Convention took place, after which it was periodically amended until the latest one in 2003
The fundamental purpose of a Load Line is to allow a maximum legal limit up to
which a ship can be loaded by cargo. By prescribing such limits, the risk of having the vessel sailing with inadequate freeboard and buoyancy can be limited.
A vessel should have sufficient freeboard at all times. Any exceptions will result in insufficient stability and excessive stress on the ship’s hull. This is where load-lines play an essential role, detecting whether the vessel is overloaded and its freeboard tremendously effortless.
Lloyd’s Register has established a minimum freeboard requirement for its classed ships to ensure their good reserve buoyancy in heavy seas.
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.
For example, A vessel sailing in Winter on North Atlantic Ocean will have a greater freeboard than on a voyage in Tropical Zones and Freshwaters.
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.
2 Eng. H. Z. Msumi 3.0 Types
a) Standard Load Line marking – This applies to all types of vessels.
b) Timber Load Line Markings – This applies to vessels carrying timber cargo.
4.0 An International Requirement
The International Convention on Load Lines,1966
5.0 The principles of the Load Line Convention
The four principles of the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 as modified by the Protocol of 1988 relating thereto, (hereafter: LL66/88) can be summarised as:
a) Adequate structural strength
b) Protection of safe means of access for the crew c) Watertight integrity of ship’s hull below freeboard deck d) Preserve reserve buoyancy by establishing minimum permissible freeboards.
6.0 Structure of the Load Line Convention 1966/88
The LL Convention contains 34 articles directing the actions of the signatory States concerning the implementation of the convention. Annex I contains the regulations for determining the load lines and is divided into four chapters: Chapter I – General regulations concerning application Chapter II – Conditions of assignment of freeboard Chapter III – Freeboards Chapter IV – Special requirements for timber freeboards Annex II contains regulation zones, areas and seasonal periods Annex III contains the forms of certificates required under LL 66/88.
7.0 Ships which the Load Line Convention
The convention applies to the following ships engaged in international voyages:
a) ships registered in countries the governments of which are contracting governments
b) ships registered in the territories to which the current convention is extended under Article 32 c) unregistered ships flying the flag of a State, the government of which is a contracting government
3 Eng. H. Z. Msumi 8.0 Vessels which are exempted from the Load Line Convention
The Load Line Convention does not apply to the following vessels:
a) Ships of war b) New ships of less than 24m c) Existing ships of less than 150gt d) Pleasure yachts not engaged in trade e) Fishing vessels
9.0 Certification and verification schedule under LL 66/88
The purpose of the 1988 Protocol in the main, was to apply the Harmonised System of Survey and Certification.
Under LL66/88, the following applies:
a) Initial surveys must be conducted before a ship is put into service. This ensures that the structure, equipment, materials, scantling and markings comply with the current convention. b) Annual surveys must be undertaken within three months of the anniversary to ensure that: There have been no alterations to the hull or superstructure that affect the calculated positioning of the load line marks. Fittings and appliances to protect openings, guardrails, freeing ports and means of access for crew quarters are in good condition. The freeboard marks are correctly and permanently indicated. The required information concerning the loading and discharging of cargo is provided. c) Renewal surveys must be conducted at intervals not exceeding five years to ensure that the structure, equipment, arrangements, materials, scantling and markings comply fully.
10.0 International Loadline Certification
Every ship surveyed and marked in accordance with the present Load line convention is issued an International Load Line Certificate by the authorised administration equipment or arrangements covered under the survey.
The certificate will have a validity of not more than five years and will contain all vital information, including the assigned freeboard and freshwater allowance (FWA).
4 Eng. H. Z. Msumi Fresh Water Allowance (FWA) is the number of millimetres by which the mean draught changes when a ship passes from salt water to fresh water, or vice-versa, when the ship is loaded to the Summer displacement.
After completion of a load line survey and issuance of the certificate, no changes shall be made to the superstructure, markings.
11.0 Circumstances that can an International Load Line Certificate cease to be
valid The ILLC can become invalidated when any of the following conditions arise: Material alterations have been made to the hull or to the superstructure that would necessitate a reassignment of the freeboard. Fittings and appliances mentioned in the Conditions of Assignment are not maintained in an effective condition. The certificate is not endorsed to attest that the ship has been correctly surveyed in accordance with the required survey schedule. The structural strength of the ship is depleted to such an extent that the ship is unsafe.
5 Eng. H. Z. Msumi 12.0 Definitions of some key terms of the LL66/88
Block Coefficient is the volume of moulded displacement divided by the volume of length, breadth and moulded depth.
Freeboard is the distance measured vertically downwards in midships, from the upper edge of the deck line to the upper edge of the related load line.
Freeboard deck is the uppermost complete deck exposed to weather and sea, which has a permanent means of closing all openings in the weather area and below, which are openings on the ship’s side and can be permanently closed off.
Moulded depth is the vertical distance measured from the top of the keel to the top of the freeboard deck beam at the side.
The Superstructure is a decked superstructure on the freeboard deck extending from the side to side of the ship or with the side plating not being on board of the shell plating, more than 40% of the breadth.
Weathertight means that in any sea condition, water will not penetrate the ship.
Watertight means that the arrangement can prevent the passage of water in either direction including while also allowing for a pressure increase water for the maximum head of water which it might have to sustain.
6 Eng. H. Z. Msumi 13.0 Construction and Positioning of the Loadline Mark
Loadline mark comprises a circle of 300mm diameter intersected by a horizontal
450mm in length, the upper edge of which passes through the centre of the circle. The centre of the ring shall be placed amidships and at a distance equal to the assigned summer freeboard measured vertically below the deck line.
The complete Load line markings consist of 3 vital parts.
Deck Line is a horizontal line measuring 300mm by 25mm. It passes through the upper surface of the freeboard. It is marked amidships on each side of the ship
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.
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 23mm. The upper surfaces of the load lines indicate the maximum depths to which the ships may be submerged in different seasons and circumstances.
7 Eng. H. Z. Msumi 14.0 Load lines Markings
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.
All assigned load lines must be marked amidships on each side of the ship, together with the deck line.
Letter Meaning Description
TF Tropical Fresh Water Is the freshwater load line in Tropical. It is marked above the T at an amount equal to FWA. F Freshwater Load line is the summer freshwater load line. The distance between S and F is the Fresh Water Allowance (FWA). T Tropical It is 1/48th of the summer draft marked above the Summer load line 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. 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.
15.0 What does LL66/88 say about the submersion of the load line?
When the vessel is put to sea, during the voyage and upon arrival, the appropriate load line on the side of the ship, corresponding to the season of the year, and the applicable zone at any time, must not be submerged.
8 Eng. H. Z. Msumi 16.0 Timber Load Line Markings
A timber deck cargo may be regarded as giving a ship a certain additional buoyancy and a greater degree of protection against the sea. For that reason, ships carrying a timber deck cargo may be granted a reduction of freeboard.
Timber vessels are allowed less freeboard than other cargo vessels.
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.
9 Eng. H. Z. Msumi Timber cargo vessels will have a second set of Load Lines marked like the standard load lines positioned 540mm above the centre loading disc.
The timber load line’s letter marking is different and prefixed by ‘L’, meaning ‘Lumber’.
Letter Meaning Description
LTF Lumber Tropical Fresh Water It is positioned above LT by an amount equal to FWA LF Lumber Freshwater It is situated above the LS by an amount equal to FWA. LT Lumber Tropical It is 1/48th of the lumber summer draft above LS. 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. LWNA Lumber Winter North Atlantic It is at the same level as WNA.
