TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
Abeam: A bearing projected at right-angles from the fore and aft line, outwards from the
widest part of the ship
Ahead: ‘Right ahead’ is the line the fore and aft line, if projected, would extend in front of the
vessel. Opposite to the term ‘astern’, when used in relation to relative bearings. It may also
be used as an engine-room order
to cause the engines to turn in order to move the ship ahead.
Amidships: The middle of the vessel in both transverse and longitudinal directions.
More commonly used as a helm order, when it is usually shortened to ‘midships’.
Athwartships: Defined as ‘in a direction’ from oneside of the ship tothe other, at rightangles
tothe fore & aft line
Breadth: The maximum beam of the vessel measured from the outside edge of the shell
plating on either side of the vessel is the extreme breadth.
The beam of the vessel measured amidships, between the inside edge of the shell plating on
either side of the vessel, is the moulded breadth.
Camber (or round of beam): The curvature of the deck in the athwartships direction. The
measurement is made by comparing height of deck at the centre of the vessel to height of
deck at the side of the vessel.
Depth: The extreme depth of the vessel is measured from the bottom side of the keel to the
top of the deck beams, the measurement being taken at the side of the vessel.
The moulded depth is measured from the top side ofthe keel tothe top of the deck beams, at
the side of the vessel
Flare: The outward curvature of the shell plating in the foremost part of the vessel, providing
more width to the fo’c’sle head and at the same time helping to prevent water coming
aboard.
Fore and Aft Line: An imaginary line passing from the stem to the stern through the centre of
the vessel.
Freeboard: This is the vertical distance, measured at the ship’s side, from the waterline to
the top of the freeboard deck [Link] freeboard measurement is taken at the midships
point. Deck edge is marked by a painted line 25mm _ 100mm, above the plimsoll line.
Keel Rake: The inclination of the line of the keel to the horizontal.
Length between Perpendiculars (LBP): The distance between the for’d and aft
perpendiculars.
Length Overall (LOA): The maximum length of the vessel measured from the extreme for’d
point of the vessel to the extreme after point.
Perpendiculars: A perpendicular drawn to the waterline from a point on the summer loadline
where it intersects the stempost is called the forward perpendicular (FP).
A perpendicular drawn to the waterline at a point where the after side of the rudder post
meets the summer waterline is called the aft perpendicular (AP). If a rudder post is not fitted,
then it is drawn from the centre
of the rudder stock.
Rise of Floor: This is the rise of the bottom shell plating above the base line (taken from the
top edge of the keel)
Sheer: This is the curvature of the deck in the fore and aft direction, measured as the height
of the deck at various points above the height of the deck at the midships point.
Ship’s Beam: The widest part of the ship in the transverse athwartships direction.
Stem Rake: The inclination of the stem line to the vertical.
Tonnage: All ships constructed on or after 8 July, 1982 are measured in accordance with the
IMO 1969 International Conference on Tonnage Measurement. Existing ships built prior to
this date were allowed to retain their existing tonnage if the owner so desired, for a period of
12 years. All ships must now comply with the 1969 Convention from 18 July, 1994.
Gross Tonnage (GT): is defined as that measurement of the internal capacity of the ship.
The Gross Tonnage value is determined by the formula:
GT = K1V
when K1 = 0.2 + 0.02 log10V
V = total volume of all enclosed spaces measured in cubic metres.
Net Tonnage (NT): is that measurement which is intended to indicate the working/earning
capacity of the vessel. Port and harbour dues are based on the gross and net tonnage
figures.
Net Tonnage for Passenger Ships, carrying more than 13 passengers is determined by the
formula:
NT= K2 Vc [4d/3D]2 + K3 [N1 + N2/10]
Net Tonnage for other vessels is determined by the formula:
NT= K2 Vc [4d/3D]2
where
VC = total volume of cargo spaces in cubic metres.
d = moulded draught at midships in metres (Summer loadline draught or deepest subdivision
load line in passenger vessels)
D= Moulded depth in metres amidships.
K2 = 0.2 + 0.02 log10VC
K3 = 1.25(GT +10,000)/10,000
N1 = Number of passengers in cabins with not more than 8 berths.
N2= Number of other passengers.
NT is not tobe taken as less than 0.30 [Link] factor [4d/3D]2is not taken tobe greater than
unity.
The expression K2 Vc [4d/3D]2 is not to be taken as less than 0.25 GT
Tumblehome: The inward curvature of the ship’s side shell plating above the summer
loadline
