INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON LOAD LINES 1966

It has long been recognized that limitations on the draft to which

ships may load make a significant contribution to safety of
vessels. These limits are given in the form of freeboards which
constitute, besides external weather tight integrity and watertight
integrity, the main objective of this Convention to establish
uniform principles and rules with the respect to the limits to which
ships on international voyages may be load having regard to the
need for safeguarding life and property at sea (Preamble to the
Convention)
The first International Convention on Load Lines, adopted in 1930,
was based on the principle of reserve buoyancy, although it was
recognized even then that the freeboard should also ensure
adequate stability and avoid excessive stress on the ships hull as
a result of overloading.
The present Convention is sponsored by IMO and was adopted in
London in 1966. It came into force in 1968. This Convention
consists of 34 Articles of Intent and three annexes of regulations,
explanations and specimen certificates.
It has the same tacit acceptance principle in adopting
amendments as the SOLAS Convention and there are
Amendments adopted for 1971, 1975, 1979 and 1983.
The Convention applies to all ships registered in countries of
Contracting Governments (Art 4) except
ships of war
new ships of less than 24 metres in length
existing ships of less than 150 tons gross

CMET. LUCKNOW

 pleasure yachts not engaged in trade

fishing vessels (Art 5)
The regulations take into account the potential hazards present in
different geographical zones and during the different seasons of
the year (Annex II). There are also technical details of the
measures to be taken to provide additional safety with regard to
doors in the hull and on the weather dock, freeing ports,
hatchways and other items. (Annex II) The main purpose of these
measures is to ensure the watertight integrity of the ships hull
below the freeboard deck.
Surveys
Surveys to ensure that the vessel and its fittings fully comply with
the requirements of the Convention are carried out before and
during the operational life of the ship. The surveys should be
carried out by officers of the Administration. They may, however,
entrust this work to surveyors nominated for the purpose or to
organizations recognized by it. (Art 13)
Initial Survey
This survey is carried out before the vessel is put into service it
will include a complete inspection of the vessels structure and
equipment covered by the Convention. The survey will be such as
to ensure that the arrangements, materials and scantlings fully
comply with the requirements of the Regulations (Art 14.l.a)
Periodical Survey
Once the vessel has been surveyed and been found to be in
compliance with the regulations it is issued with a Load Line. This
has been ascertained from calculations of the vessels volume

CMET. LUCKNOW

and her stability, the information of which is given to the ship. The
vessel is then marked with the load line (Art 13) and Load Line
Certificate (1966) is issued. (Art 16)
After the interval of five years the vessel must once again be
subjected to an extensive survey known as the Periodical Survey
which shall ensure that the vessel, its structure, materials and
scantlings still comply with the regulations. This survey is
repeated at five yearly intervals. (Art 14.l.b)
Annual Inspections
During the period of the Certificate the vessel is required to have
Annual Inspections within three months either way of each
anniversary date of the certificate which shall ensure that
alterations have not been made to the hull or superstructure
which would affect the calculations determining the position of
the load line and so as to ensure the maintenance in an effective
condition of fittings and appliances for

protection of openings
guardrails
freeing ports
means of access to crews quarters (Art 14.1.b)
Issue of Certificates

An International Load Line Certificate (1966) shall be issued to

every ship that has been surveyed and marked in accordance
with the present Convention and such certificates shall be issued
by the Administration or organization duly authorized by it. (Art
16)

CMET. LUCKNOW

However the Administration may request another Contracting

Government to cause the ship to be surveyed and issued with a
certificate, the certificate will bear a note that this has been done
at the Flag States request. (Art 17)
Maintenance of Vessel
After any survey of the ship has been completed, no change shall
be made in the structure, equipment, arrangements, material or
scantlings covered by the survey without the sanction of the
assigning authority or Administration. (Art 15)
Certificates
The certificates shall be drawn up in the official language the
issuing country. If the language used is neither English nor French,
the text shall include a translation into one of these languages.
(Art 18).
The certificate issued has a period of validity which shall not
exceed five years from the date of issue. (Art 19)
An International Load Line Certificate (1966) shall be cancelled by
the Administration if
material alterations have taken place in the hull or
superstructure of the ship such as would necessitate the
assignment of an increased freeboard
the fittings and appliances such as freeing ports, guard rails
and access to crews quarters are not maintained in an
effective manner
the certificate is not endorsed to show that the ship has
been subjected to an annual inspection
structural strength of the ship is lowered to such an extent
that the ship is unsafe (Art 19.3)
A certificate issued to the ship by an administration shall cease to
be valid upon the transfer of such ship to the flag of another
State. (Art 19.5)

CMET. LUCKNOW

Control
Ships holding a certificate issued under these regulations are
subject, when in the ports of other Contracting Governments, to
control by officers duly authorized by such Governments.
These Governments shall ensure that such control is exercised as
far as is reasonable and practicable with a view to verifying that
there is on board a valid certificate. If there is a valid certificate of
board the ship, such control shall be limited to the purpose of
determining that
the ship is not loaded beyond the limits allowed by the
certificate
the position of the load line of the ship corresponds with the
certificate
the ship has not been materially altered in respect of the
matters set out in the Regulations
If such control is exercised, it shall only be exercised in so far as
may be necessary to ensure that the ship shall not sail until it can
proceed to sea without danger to the passengers or the crew.
In the event of the control provided for in the Regulations giving
rise to intervention of any kind, the officer carrying out the control
shall immediately inform in writing the Consul of the State whose
flag the ship is flying of his decision and of all the circumstances
in which intervention was deemed necessary (Art 21)

The

SUMMARY
main features of the Load Line Conventions are to
establish uniform principles and rules
prevent ship overloading
set standards to maintain watertight integrity
maintain these standards

CMET. LUCKNOW

The Load Line Convention covers

Administration of surveys
Issue of certificates
Regulations for determining load lines
Annex on technical measures
Specifications of zones and seasonal areas
Specimens of certificates
Load Line Rules

The Owner of a ship applies to an Assigning Authority for the

assignment of freeboards.
The Assigning Authority decides which load lines are to be marked
on the ships side and their position, together with the position of
the deck line and load line mark. The Rules describe these marks
as appropriate marks.
A ship is to be loaded so that, in salt water, or on entry into salt
water, with no list, the appropriate loadline is not submerged.
The appropriate load line is the load line related to the zone or
area in which the ship is located or the season of the year being
experienced.
For the purposes of the Load Line Rules, the oceans and seas of
the world are divided into permanent zones (i.e. Tropical and
Summer) and seasonal zones and areas (i.e. Seasonal Tropical
and Seasonal Winter). In permanent zones the load lines
appropriate to the zone is applicable throughout the year. In
seasonal zones and areas the load lines to be used depends upon
the season of the year. Where, in the course of her voyage, a ship
has to pass from one zone or area to another, where less deep

CMET. LUCKNOW

loading is allowed, account must be taken at the loading port so

that she arrives at the zone or area no deeper than the
appropriate load line.
Additional restrictions are applied to vessels of 100 metres or less
in the North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Area, and also in the Baltic
Sea, north western Mediterranean Sea, northern half of the Black
Sea, part of the coast of Korea, and a portion of the eastern
seaboard of the United States of America. With the exception of
the North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Area, these areas are
permanent summer to vessels over 100 metres in length.
The overloading of a ship is an offence for which the Owner or
Master are liable, on conviction on indictment, to a fine or, on
summary conviction to a maximum fine of 1,000, and an
additional fine, which the court thinks fit, reflecting the increased
earning capacity brought about by the offence. The additional fine
is not to exceed 1,000 for each centimetre by which the
appropriate load line is submerged.
If the Master takes the ship to sea when she is overloaded, or any
other person sends, or is party to sending her to sea overloaded,
then he is guilty of an offence and liable, on conviction on
indictment, to a fine or, on summary conviction, to a maximum
fine of 1,000, without prejudice to the fine for overloading.
It is a defence to prove that overloading wad due solely to
deviation or delay, caused solely by stress of weather or
circumstances which could not have been prevented or
forestalled.
Any overloaded ship can be detained until she ceases to be
overloaded. It is possible, under the M.S.A., for the Master to be
fined a maximum of 50,000, on summary conviction, for

CMET. LUCKNOW

overloading, or improper loading to such an extent that the ship is

not safe to go to sea without danger to herself or those onboard.
Furthermore, a ship which proceeds to sea with less freeboard
than that appearing in her Load Line Certificate may have her
Classification Certificate withdrawn.
Issue and Cancellation of the Load Line Certificate.
The survey of the ship for the assignment of load lines ensures
the ship meets the requirements of the Conditions of
Assignment.
Conditions of Assignment.
1 The structural strength of the ship must be sufficient for the
freeboards assigned to her.
2 Her stability, in all probable loading conditions, must be
sufficient for the freeboards assigned to her, having regard
to the intended service of the ship. [Stability criteria, Sch. 4,
part I, page 42]
3 Bulkheads, at exposed ends of enclosed superstructures, are
to be of efficient construction, with openings capable of
being closed.
4 Hatchways, are to have coamings of sufficient height and
strength, and means of closing them weather tight.
5 Machinery space openings are to be efficiently framed and
enclosed by a steel casing of substantial strength. Doors and
covers are to close openings weather tight.

CMET. LUCKNOW

6 Manholes, in exposed positions on the freeboard or

superstructure deck, are to be fitted with a substantial cover
to secure them watertight.
7 Ventilators are to have means of closing and securing
weather tight.
8 Air pipes are to have means of closing them weather tight.
9 Cargo ports and similar openings are to be fitted with doors,
designed to ensure water tightness and structural integrity
of the shell.
10 Scuppers, inlets and discharges, which pass through the hull, are
to be fitted with automatic non-return valves.
11 Portholes, below the freeboard deck, and in enclosed
superstructures, are to be fitted with a hinged deadlight, which
can be closed and secures watertight.
12 Freeing ports are to be efficient. Where they are fitted with
shutters, the shutters must not jam.
13 Accommodation deck houses are to be of efficient construction,
with safe access.
14 Exposed parts of the freeboard deck and superstructure deck are
to be fitted with efficient perimeter guard rails, or guard wires and
stanchions, or bulwarks.
15 Gangways, under deck passages and all means of access are to
be designed, constructed and fitted with lifelines, access ladders,
guard rails, & c., so as to provide effective protection for the crew.

CMET. LUCKNOW

Where the survey to assign freeboards is for an existing ship, the

surveyor will consider the amount of corrosion present, and
assess how this may affect the efficiency of the structure, or the
safety of the crew.
There must be information onboard relating to the stability of the
ship. The information is based upon an inclining test and is given
in the form of a book, which is to be kept onboard in the Masters
custody.
When the Assigning Authority is satisfied that the ship has been
surveyed and marked as directed, the appropriate certificate is
issued on application from the Owner. This is an International
Load Line Certificate (1996) in the case of an existing ship of not
less than 150 GT and new ships of not less than 24 metres in
length; it is a United Kingdom Load Line Certificate in the case of
any other UK registered ship.
While the Load Line Certificate is in force, the ship is periodically
inspected to ensure that the fittings and appliances are in an
effective condition and no changes have been made to alter the
assigned freeboards. The load line may also be re-measured, to
ensure that no unauthorized alteration has taken place. It will be
the responsibility of the ship to ensure the staging to be used for
the inspection is safely rigged.
A certificate may be cancelled by the D.o.T.a

if they are satisfied that:-

the ship does not comply with the Conditions of

Assignment; or

ii

the structural strength of the ship is so low the ship is

unsafe; or

CMET. LUCKNOW

iii

the information on which the freeboards were assigned

was incorrect in a material particular;

b if the surveyor has not endorsed the certificate to show the

ship has been inspected;
c if a new certificate is issued;
d if the ship ceases to be UK registered.
The certificate is valid for a period not longer than 5 yrs, subject
to periodic inspections and provided no structural alterations have
taken place to change the Conditions of Assignment. The interval
between inspections are to be not less than 9 months or more
than 15 months. Provision is made for an extension to be granted
under certain conditions. It is also provided for exemptions to be
given, in which case an Exemption Certificate will be issued in
conjunction with the Load Line Certificate.
Two certificates are issued; one to be framed and kept posted up
in some conspicuous place onboard, while the other is kept with
the ships papers for conducting the ships business.
Before a ship proceeds to sea, the Master must produce the
certificate to the Officer of Customs when clearance is required.
Until the certificate is produced clearance will not be granted and
the ship may be detained.
If a ship proceeds, or attempts to proceed to sea without a valid
Load Line Certificate, the Master is guilty of an offence and liable,
on conviction on indictment, to a fine or, on summary conviction,
to a maximum fine of 1,000.

CMET. LUCKNOW

If the ship proceeds, or attempts to proceed to sea without being

surveyed, or without the appropriate marks, or without complying
with the Conditions of Assignment the Owner or Master is liable,
on conviction on indictment, to a fine or, on summary conviction,
to a maximum fine of 1,000.
It is the responsibility of the Owner or the Master to ensure the
ship is kept correctly marked. Failure to keep the ship correctly
marked is an offence, punishable, on summary conviction, with a
maximum fine of 1,000.
If anyone conceals, removes, alters, defaces or obliterates the
marks, or causes, or permits anyone to do so without proper
authority, he is guilty of an offence and liable, on summary
conviction, to a maximum fine of 1,000.

CMET. LUCKNOW