S C Misra

Law of Floatation:
Equilibrium requires
Weight = Buoyancy
LCB = LCG

Types of Equilibrium
Stable Equilibrium
Unstable Equilibrium
Neutral Equilibrium
Transverse Equilibrium - Equilibrium in

Transverse Plane heel

Longitudinal Equilibrium Equilibrium in
Longitudanal Plane - Trim

Equilibrium

(a) Equilibrium in static position

(b) Stable

(c) Unstable

Neutral Equilibrium

(a)

(b)

External Forces and Moments

Extrnal Forces and Moments can be
Static or Dynamic
Steady or unsteady
Examples
waves in a seaway
wind force
turning of a vessel
collision
grounding
grain shifting etc.

Assumptions
Due to proportions of vessel dimensions, heel is large

compared to trim. So stability normally means transverse

stability whereas trim is necessary for vessel equilibrium.
In this chapter we ignore the dynamic aspects and consider
only static effects due to external forces and moments
acting on the ship.
Normally heel and trim act together on the ship. But for
convenience we consider heel and trim separately at this
stage.

Metacentre and Righting Arm

SHIP

Transverse Stability at Small Angles

Heel Angle is small, say where 0
M: Metacentre intersection of vertical lines through

B in the original position and through B in its heeled

position
GZ: Righting Lever
.GZ: Righting Moment
GM : Transverse Metacentric Height
GZ = GM.sin

Transverse Stability at Small Angles

The ship will come back to its original position or has
positive stability if
GZ > 0.0 or
GM > 0.0 or
metacenric height is positive or
M is above G

Transverse Metacentre

Transverse Metacentre
Transverse metacentre, M, is the intersection of the

vertical line through the CB in undisturbed condition and

through the CB in the inclined position.
Port and starboard sides being symmetrical in a ship, the
CB and hence, M, is on a fixed centre line plane at various
draughts.
M is fixed for small angles of inclination in the transverse
plane.
The height of M above CB or CG is not large and therefore
stability in the transverse plane could be a matter of
concern.
The trans. metacentric height GM is necessary to calculate
the heel of the vessel.

Calculation of GM
Undisturbed waterline WL and inclined water line

WL intersect at a point F on the ships centre plane

since the ship is symmetrical about the centre plane. It
is assumed that the ship is wall sided in the vicinity of
water lines WL and WL.
Let the inclination be small denoted by .
The volume of the immersed wedge must be equal to
the volume of the emerged wedge.
Also the moment due to shift of wedge volume
through gg must be equal to the moment due to shift
of CB from B to B

Calculation of GM
Ships centre of buoyancy will move:
in a direction parallel to a line connecting g and g
a distance, BB equal to v.gg/vol. Of displacement.
As 0, BB will tend to become parallel to the
inclined water line

Calculation of BM
Equating moment of shifting of wedge volume to
the moment due to shift of CB
B B1
v . g1 g 2
BM

tan
tan

1
2
v . g1 g 2 y y tan 2.
2
3
0
L

Or

v . g1 g 2 2

tan 3

Thus, 0 ,

3
y
dx
0

IT
BM

yd x

= I

Righting Moment
GM = KB + BM - KG
= KM - KG
GZ = GM. sin = GM.
This is true only if is small.
Righting Moment = .GZ
= .GM. at small angles

Stability of Submerged Bodies

POSITIVE STABILITY
(a) RIGHTING MOMENT WHEN HEELED

POSITIVE STABILITY

(c) RIGHTING MOMENT WHEN HEELED

NEGATIVE STABILITY
(b) HEELING MOMENT
WHEN HEELED

SURFACE SHIP

NEGATIVE STABILITY
(d) HEELING MOMENT
WHEN HEELED

SUBMERGED
SUBMARINE

Longitudinal Metacentre
Longitudinal metacentre, M, is the intersection of the

vertical line through the CB in undisturbed condition and

through the CB in the inclined position.
Fore and aft not being symmetrical in a ship, the CB and
hence, M, is not on a fixed transverse plane at various
draughts.
Like M, M is fixed for small angles of inclination in the
longitudinal plane.
The height of M above CB or CG is generally large and
therefore stability in the longitudinal plane is always
positive.
The long. metacentric height GM is necessary to calculate
the trim of the vessel.

Longitudinal Stability

Calculation of GM
Undisturbed waterline WL and inclined water line

WL intersect at a point F. Since the ship is not

symmetrical fore and aft, F is not at mid ship. But the
volume of the immersed wedge must be equal to the
volume of the emerged wedge.
Let the inclination be small denoted by .
Also the moment due to shift of wedge volume
through gg must be equal to the moment due to shift
of CB from B to B

Trimming about LCF

Volume of the emerged wedge =
Q

y x tan

dx

Volume of the immersed wedge =

LQ

y x tan d x
0

Then

tan d x y dx tan
0

or

LQ

x y dx
0

xydx

Hence F is LCF

LQ

xydx

Longitudinal Metacentric Radius

BM L

BB1
v . g1 g 2

tan tan

v . g1 g 2 m1 m2
Q

m1 y x tan x dx tan
0

LQ

m2 tan

2
x
ydx
0

x2 y d x

m1 m2 v . g1 g 2 I L tan

Then 0

v . g1 g 2
IL
BM L

tan

Moment to change trim

Moment to change trim by angle

= .GM. Tan = .GM. (trim/L)

where trim = draught ford. draught aft.
Then moment to change trim by 1 cm,
MCT 1cm = .GM / (100 L)
So for a longitudinal heeling moment,
trim (cm) = moment / MCT 1cm
Trim ford = trim* dist. Of LCF from ford. end/L
Trim aft = -(trim trim ford)
Draught ford. or aft. = original draught + trim

Rolling Period
Period = Const. x k / GM
Where k: mass radius of gyration about long. Axis through
CG and then,
Period = c x B / GM
Where c = 0.72 to 0.91 with mean at 0.80 for surface ships and
0.67 for submarines
(case of ore carrier 0.69 for loaded condition and 0.94 for
ballast condition)
High GM low period, fast rolling, acceleration high,
uncomfortable
Normally period should be between 12 to 18 seconds.

Loss of Initial Stability due to free surface

Liquid with free surface in a
tank in the ship
With small angle heel the CG
of liquid moves from B to B
Perpendiculars through B nd B
intersect at metacentre M as if
CG of the weight has shifted
from b to M
The rise of CG of liquid from B
to M
= i / v
where v is the volume of liquid
in the tank and i is the m.i. Of
the free surface.

Loss of Initial Stability due to free surface

Increase mass moment due to rise in CG of the tank liquid = v / .

i / v = i /
where is the specific volume of liquid = m / kg
Virtual rise in CG of the ship = (i / ) / V
where V: volume of displacement of the ship
GM = KB + BM KG - (i / ) / V
where (i / ) / V is the free surface correction which does not
depend on the amount of liquid.
Loss of stability due to f.s. can occur during voyage tank
consumables reduce during voyage at arrival port
Loss of stability due to f.s. can occur at port due to loading and
unloading of ballast water
Loss of stability due to f.s. can occur during voyage ballast water
management at sea

Effect of Suspended Weight

Loading and unloading of

cargo on and from the ship
Shift of cargo from one side
to other
Crane barge
The weight swings about the
point of suspension which acts
like metacentre
The virtual CG of ship moves
to point of suspension.
The corrected GM and GZ can
be calculate.
This can happen during
loading and unloading at port

Effect of Loading on Ships

Capacity carriers such as passenger ships, RORO ferries

and similar vessels have high superstructure and hence

high CG. During design and construction this is taken
into account for adequate stability.
Vessels such as container vessels, passenger ships and
timber carriers are loaded with weight above deck. Care
should be taken while loading, eg., container ships
should be loaded with light containers on top tiers.
Therefore, in such vessels, stability must be evaluated
during loading operation.
It may be necessary to load ballast water at lower levels
of the ship to bring down the CG.

Stability of Multibody Systems

Moment of Inertia of Waterplane about system

longitudinal axis =
Own M.I. About its own long. Axis + Transfer of MI to
system long. Axis. Thus
Trans M.I. = (own M.I. + Awp.d)
where d: distance between the body long. Axis and
systen long. axis
High BM, KG can be high
Examples catamarans, trimarans, pentamarans,
SWATH vessels, floating semi-submersibles.

Training on Catamaran

CATAMARAN - Ferry

Trimaran Artists Impression

Hydrofoil

SWATH Vessel

Semi-submersible platform
Thunder Horse, USA

Inclining experiment
Purpose : To determine the light ship weight and it CG position
Environmental Condition : Calm weather, no wind, waves or

current, preferably hip floating in dry dock

Ship condition : Ship nearly complete in all respects prior to
delivery
Experiment : Read Ta and Tf. Get ship displacement and LCB
position and KM from hydrostatics. Then
light ship weight = Displacement and LCG = LCB
Move weight w though a distance d from one side of ship to the
other.
Measure heel angle (small) .
Then w . d = . GM . Tan and GM can be calculated and
KG = KM GM
Take usual expt. precautions repeat readings, take average and
make corrections for addition and removal of weights.