2014-2015

Stability of fishing
vessels

Under supervision of Dr: Arwa Hussein &

Osama Kaddour

By :Salma Ibrahim Mostafa

Content :
Introduction to Stability of fishing
vessels.
Factors affecting ship stability .
Ways to improve the stability .
Safety practices on board .

Stability is the ability of the vessel to

return to its upright position after being
heeled by external or internal force such
as wind or weight movements.

In fishing vessels, factors affecting ship

stability are:
wind,
waves,
or forces from fishing operations.

 There are two primary forces,

that provide a vessels stability:
Gravity
Buoyancy

Gravit
y

Buoyan
cy

1-Gravity force
Lightweight

Deadweight

Displacement

Centre of gravity G

Note,
During fishing, the vessels displacement
changes constantly as a result of oil
consumption and the weight of the fish
caught

In fishing vessels:
Excess weight is the weight on board
that is not included in the ships own
weight (lightweight):
Fishing
perso
gear
ns
Fuel oil
and
fresh
water

Fish
boxes
and ice

Craftsman
tools and
stores

Heel
weights

2-Buoyancy
The force of buoyancy acts
upward at Centre of
Buoyancy B and is equal to
the displacement weight of the
vessel in a particular condition
of load when vessel is in
balance.
is at the geometric center of

Centre of Buoyancy
B

the underwater portion of the

vessel
B is not fixed; it changes all
the time depending on the
vessels draft, heel and
trim.

When the vessel heels

Stable Equilibrium

Unstable Equilibrium

A vessel is stable if it tends to

return to the vertical upright
position when heeled. For a
vessel to be stable, M must be
above G, and the vessel is
said to have positive GM.

If G is above M the vessel is said

to be unstable and has a have
negative GM. When a vessel with
negative GM is heeled, it will
tend to heel further over and
could be in danger of capsizing

Tender Vessels
If fish or other weights are added on deck or
higher in the vessel, the Centre of gravity (G)
will move towards the weight added and
decrease the metacentric height (GM).
A tender fishing vessel has a small GM, will be
easily heeled, and return slowly to the upright.
If the vessel hangs at the end of each roll
before returning to the upright, weight should
be lowered in the vessel to increase the GM.

Stiff Vessels
Weight added low in the vessel will cause
(G) to move down towards the weight
added, thus increasing GM. A stiff vessel
has a large GM, is comparatively difficult
to heel, and will return to the upright
quickly.

GZ curve

Factors affecting ship

stability

1-Overloading leading to capsize

Fishing vessels are normally overloaded by
loading too much fish in the hold, or loading
extra fish on deck. causes;
1-lower the freeboard 2-lifts the Centre of gravity
dangerously

nearer the water level is to the deck

edge

more limited the range of stability

2- Freeboard:

ssel with reasonable freeboard and high GZ va

essels with low freeboard and small GZ value

3-Load Height

Stowing the catch down below increases the vessels

stability,
as opposed to carrying catch on deck which raises the
Centre of gravity.
Could be catch, fuel, the net .

fish in hold

fish on deck

4-free-surface effects

-Effect of Free Surface on Tanks

B-Effect of Free Surface on Deck

C- Free Surface Down floodin

Down flooding through open door

5-Fishing Operations

A-Load Shift

Weights not secured can shift when running in

weather or as a result of fishing operations. A
load that has shifted can compromise vessel
stability by reducing the GZ righting lever and
the amount of righting energy.

-Suspended Weights
Lifting weights with the boom is part of many fishing operations.

weight on deck and on

Centre line

weight lifted off deck, but still on

centre line

weight lifted over the side

-Towing Fishing Gear

When trawling or towing with other fishing gear, the vessels stability
is reduced. The higher the drag point and the heavier the drag, the
more the stability is reduced.
The more load there is on the lines, the more the freeboard is
reduced.

vessel with good stability

When towing

6- Effect of Icing , Weather and

Heavy sea :

Ways to improve the

stability .

1. Stowe The cumulative weight of trawl

fishing equipment and the additional
gear in the lower part of the fishing ship
Like Net trunk

2. Stowing the catch down below to

improve stability Like Tackle box

3. The size of the lift and the pulling force

of the winch must therefore be adapted to
the vessels
Stability

4. If it is not possible to lift the catch in

good time before the vessel reaches a
heeling, where it has its optimal righting
arm, the catch should be released.

5. When the vessel takes a turn with

towed gear, the crew has to be very alert.
6. Tanks (and the hold) should always be
divided by longitudinal boundaries /
shutters, so the transverse effect of free
surfaces is reduced.
7. Added buoyancy in the gunwale

Safety practices on
board
All openings in the hull and
deckhouse (doors, hatches,
should be
fitted withwindows)
watertight or
weathertight closures.
must be maintained in good working
condition.
regular inspection program onboard the
vessel to check their condition.
Train the crew in the location and
operation
Fitted High water alarms in compartments &
large fish processing spaces

1.

Stability Guidance

Train all crewmembers in how your fishing vessels stability

works.

2.

Follow the stability guidance at all times. Key universal guidance

includes:
- Do not overload the vessel.
- Keep cargo secured at all times.
- Minimize the number of partially filled tanks to decrease free surface
effects.
- Keep all bilges, compartments and processing spaces free of standing water.
-Lastly, maintain your vessels watertight envelope!
3. Always be aware of your vessels current and future loading
conditions and what impact this may have on your vessels stability.
4. Keep track of physical changes made to your vessel such as
installing new fishing gear.
5.

Inclinometers should be fitted to the fishing vessels

Vessel Operations and

Seamanship

1. Keep bilges pumped to minimum levels to prevent free surface

effects and minimize excess weight.
2. When heavy seas are encountered,
- Suspend all fishing operations.
- Secure all fishing gear and cargo to prevent shifting.
- Head the vessel into the seas to minimize water on deck and the vessels
motion.
3. When towing fishing gear, always use extreme caution. Tow the
gear directly off the stern to minimize capsizing moments on the
vessel.
4. When lifting, always use extreme caution. Whenever possible,
secure the load to prevent shifting during the lift.
5. Minimize the time lifting heavy fishing gear over the side, such as
retrieving purse seines. Perform these lifts only in sheltered areas.
6. Maintain effective means for quickly releasing any towed or lifted
fishing gear to prevent capsizing the vessel in the event the gear
snags an obstruction or the fish dive.

 References:
1. http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i062
5e/i0625e00.htm
2. http://www.fao.org/3/a-i0625e.pdf
3. http://www.google.com.eg/url?sa
=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&c
d=8&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEgQFjA
H&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.maritime
nz.govt.nz%2FPublications-and-f
orms%2FCommercial-operations%2F
Shipping-safety%2FVessel-Stabil
ity-Guidelines-A4.pdf&ei=0vC-VM

Thank
you for
listening