ASSIGNMENT OF FREEBOARD

The M. S. (Load Line) Regulations 1998 require that all UK

registered ships be assigned a freeboard and a corresponding
set of load lines to be marked permanently on the ship’s side.
Calculation and assignment of freeboard is carried out by the
MCA or a classification society approved by the MCA.
The following publications should be referred to:
The Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Regulations 1998
MSN 1701 (M)
Schedules 2 and 4 of MSN 1701 (M) detail the conditions of
assignment and calculation procedure for freeboard
assignment.
This is summarised as follows:

Assignment of freeboard ( 1
MAR)
 SCHEDULE 2
CONDITIONS OF ASSIGNMENT

PART I - SHIPS IN GENERAL

The principle factors that are taken into consideration for all
ships may be summarised as follows:
* the strength of the ship;
* the reserve buoyancy;
* the physical means of preventing entry of water into
the hull;
* the safety of the crew on the weather deck;
* the potential wetness of the weather deck;
* stability in the normal loaded condition (Intact
stability criteria is specified in this part of the
schedule);
* the degree of subdivision and stability after
suffering prescribed damage.

Assignment of freeboard ( 2
MAR)
SHIP TYPES
Two types of ships are considered:
‘Type ‘A’ ship’ means a ship which is designed to carry only
liquid cargoes in bulk and has the following characteristics:
* cargo tanks have only small access openings closed
by watertight gasketed covers of steel;
* there is a high degree of safety against flooding
because of the low permeability of the loaded cargo
spaces and the degree of subdivision of the hull;
* if over 150 m in length and designed to have empty
compartments when loaded to the Summer load
waterline, ship to be capable of remaining afloat after
flooding of any one of these empty compartments (µ
0.95) and be stable;
* if over 225 m in length the machinery space shall be
treated as a floodable compartment (µ 0.85);
* Stable above means:
Final waterline is below any opening through which
progressive flooding may take place;
List not greater than 15º (17º if no part of deck
immersed);

Assignment of freeboard ( 3
MAR)
 GM positive (determined by constant displacement
method);
to have adequate residual stability.
MCA publication ‘LOAD LINE - Instructions for guidance of
surveyors’ also states:
Maximum GZ not less than 0.1 m;
Range of positive stability not less than 20º.

‘Type ‘B’ ship’ means a ship other than a Type ‘A’ ship.

Assignment of freeboard ( 4
MAR)
PART II - SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE
TO TYPE ‘A’ SHIPS
In order that a Type ‘A’ freeboard be assigned, these additional
requirements are intended to offset the fact that the ship has
reduced reserve buoyancy (compared to a Type ‘B’ ship) and
also to safeguard the crew going about the deck in heavy
weather.
Additional requirements include:
* Machinery casing to be protected by an enclosed
superstructure;
* There must be protection for the crew when passing
between poop, any bridge or deckhouse amidships,
and the forward end which will incorporate either a
gangway with side rails and/or an under deck
passage.
* All hatch covers to be of steel and watertight when
secured.
* Guard rails must be fitted in lieu of bulwarks for at
least half the length of the ship to provide efficient
water-freeing.

Assignment of freeboard ( 5
MAR)
 SCHEDULE 4
PART I
Summer freeboard: Type ‘A’ ships
Shall be determined as follows:
1. From Table A (in Schedule 5) ascertain the ship’s
tabular freeboard.
Note
The tabular freeboard is the freeboard that would be assigned
to a standard ship built to the highest recognised standard and
having five specific characteristics as follows:
* a block coefficient of 0.68;
* a length to depth ratio of 15 i.e. L/D = 15;
* no superstructure;
* a parabolic sheer of the freeboard deck attaining a
particular height at each end of the ship (depending
on the length of ship);
* a minimum bow height above the load waterline
(depending on CB and length).
It is how each of the above characteristics for the ship in
question differs from the standard that will determine whether
the corrections to the tabular freeboard are added or subtracted.
Corrections to the tabular freeboard are as follows:
Assignment of freeboard ( 6
MAR)
2. Correction for block coefficient
Is determined by: CB = 
LBd1
where d1 is 85% of the least moulded depth, provided that in no
case shall the CB be less than 0.68.
Standard CB is 0.68. If CB greater than this the freeboard must
be increased.
This is achieved by:
Tabular Freeboard  (CB) + 0.68
1.36
Reasoning for this is as follows:
A larger CB causes an increase in the underwater volume, so
freeboard must be increased in order that the reserve buoyancy
amounts to an acceptable percentage of the greater displaced
volume.
Consider the sketches shown:

Assignment of freeboard ( 7
MAR)
STANDARD
FREEBOARD INCREASED
FREEBOARD

NON-
STANDARD STANDARD
SHIP SHIP
(CB = 0.68) (CB > 0.68)

If CB is less than 0.68 no reduction in freeboard is allowed

since fine-lined ships tend to be faster, making them more likely
to ship water in bad weather.
The tabular freeboard having been corrected for block
coefficient is known as the ‘Type ‘A’ BASIC FREEBOARD’.

Assignment of freeboard ( 8
MAR)
3. Correction for depth

Standard L/D ratio is 15.

If the L/D ratio is less than 15, which is usually the case, the
freeboard is increased.

If the L/D ratio is greater than 15 then the freeboard may be

decreased under certain circumstances.

Reasoning for this is as follows:

Consider the sketches shown:

Increased freeboard ‘x’ is required to give
Freeboard ‘y’ gives this standard this deeper ship the same percentage
ship the correct reserve buoyancy. reserve buoyancy.

x = INCREASED
FREEBOARD
y = BASIC FREEBOARD

Assignment of freeboard ( 9
MAR)
 Increased freeboard ‘x’ is required to give
Freeboard ‘y’ gives this standard this deeper ship the same percentage
ship the correct reserve buoyancy. reserve buoyancy.

x = INCREASED
FREEBOARD
y = BASIC FREEBOARD

Assignment of freeboard ( 10
MAR)
4. Correction for position of deck-line

The deck-line should be marked on the ship’s side amidships so

that it’s upper edge is level with the upper surface of the
freeboard deck as shown.

300 mm
300 mm
Sheathed deck

If the deck-line cannot be positioned as above then a correction

must be made to the Basic Freeboard.

A ship with a ‘rounded sheerstrake’ would be an example of

this.

Correction

300 mm

Assignment of freeboard ( 11
MAR)
5. Correction for amount of superstructure

The first level of superstructure is considered as reserve

buoyancy provided it is enclosed.

Superstructure may be defined as being:

a decked structure on a freeboard deck, extending from side
to side of the ship, or, having it’s side plating set inboard from
the main hull plating by not more than 4% of the ship’s
moulded breadth.
Not greater than
4%B
Additional reserve buoyancy
afforded by superstructure

The standard ship has no superstructure.

A deduction to the freeboard is determined in accordance to a
number of formulae and tables in Schedule 4 which consider
the height and percentage of length of ship over which it
extends.

Assignment of freeboard ( 12
MAR)
6. Correction for variation from standard sheer
profile

The standard ship has a parabolic sheer profile attaining a

specific height at each end of the ship.
At the aft perpendicular the height should be:
25(L +10) mm;
3
and: 50(L +10) mm
3
at the forward perpendicular (Standard sheer forward is double
that aft).

Benefits of sheer include:

* Greater reserve buoyancy at the ends of the ship,
particularly forward, ensuring good lift in a
head/following sea.
* Minimises water shipped on deck.
* Minimises risk of fore-deck being submerged after
collision and helps maintain acceptable angle of
progressive down-flooding.

Thus, a ship built with excess sheer is given a reduction in

freeboard up to a maximum of 125 mm per 100 m length of
ship. Any deficiency in sheer always results in the freeboard
being increased.

Assignment of freeboard ( 13
MAR)
7. Correction for minimum bow height

The required minimum bow height, being the minimum height

of the weather deck plating above the summer load waterline, is
prescribed by formula in which the variables are length and C B.

Minimum bow height increases as the length of ship increases

and the block coefficient decreases (to a minimum of 0.68).

The required height may be achieved by:

* including sheer (provided this extends over at least

0.15L from the forward perpendicular);

* fitting a forecastle (provided this extends over at least

0.07L.

If the freeboard as calculated from considering the previous

factors/corrections is less than the prescribed allowable
minimum, the bow height formula minimum will be assigned.

The Assigned Summer Freeboard is the tabular freeboard with

the aforementioned corrections applied.

Assignment of freeboard ( 14
MAR)
 Summer freeboard: Type ‘B’ ships
Shall be determined as follows:
1. From Table B (in Schedule 5) ascertain the ship’s
tabular freeboard.
Correction to Type ‘B’ Tabular freeboard for certain ships
(a) Type ‘B-60’ ship
The tabular freeboard may be reduced by up to 60% of the
difference between the Type ‘A’ tabular freeboard and the
Type ‘B’ tabular freeboard provided that:
* length exceeds 100 m;
* hatchways in positions 1 and 2 are closed by
gasketed, clamped, steel weathertight covers;
* when loaded to the Summer load waterline, the ship
will remain afloat after the flooding of any single
damaged compartment (other than the machinery
space) at an assumed permeability of 0.95 and be
stable.
If length exceeds 225 m, the machinery space shall
rank as a floodable compartment at an assumed
permeability of 0.85.
* Stable above means:
Final waterline is below any opening through which
progressive flooding may take place;
Assignment of freeboard ( 15
MAR)
 List not greater than 15° (17° if no part of deck
immersed);
GM positive (determined by constant displacement
method) at least 50 mm in the upright condition.
To have adequate residual stability.
Supplementary conditions for Type ‘B-60’ freeboard:
* There must be protection for the crew when passing
between poop, any bridge or deckhouse amidships,
and the forward end which will incorporate either a
gangway with side rails and/or an under-deck
passage (As Type’A’).
* Efficient breakwaters may be required on the
freeboard deck.
(These supplementary conditions are laid down in
SCHEDULE 2, PART III - SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN TYPE ‘B’ SHIPS)

Assignment of freeboard ( 16
MAR)
(b) Type ‘B-100’ ship
The tabular freeboard may be reduced by up to 100% of the
difference between the Type ‘A’ tabular freeboard and the
Type ‘B’ tabular freeboard provided that:
* length exceeds 100 m;
* hatchways in positions 1 and 2 are closed by
gasketed, clamped, steel weathertight covers;
* when loaded to the Summer load waterline, the ship
will remain afloat after the flooding of any two
adjacent damaged compartments (other than the
machinery space) at an assumed permeability of
0.95 and be stable.
If length exceeds 225 m, to withstand flooding of
the machinery space alone at an assumed permeability
of 0.85.
* Stable above means:
As for Type ‘B-60’.

Assignment of freeboard ( 17
MAR)
 Supplementary conditions of assignment for a Type ‘B-100’
freeboard (As per SCHEDULE 2, PART III)
* Protection of machinery casing as required of a
Type ‘A’ ship;
* Freeing ports and arrangements as required of a
Type ‘A’ ship;
* Protection of crew as for Type ‘B-60 ship.
The following corrections are then made as previously
discussed, namely:
2. Correction for block coefficient (giving the ‘Type
‘B’ BASIC FREEBOARD’).
3. Correction for depth.
4. Correction for position of deck-line.
5. Correction for amount of superstructure.
6. Correction for variation from standard sheer
profile.
7. Correction for minimum bow height.

The Assigned Summer Freeboard is the tabular freeboard with

the aforementioned corrections applied.

Assignment of freeboard ( 18
MAR)