Ship Stability

WHAT IS SHIP STABILITY ?

The ability of the object or vessel to float free on the water surface without sinking and gravitational force acting on it is grater than that of buoyancy force acting on it is called stability of the ship.

Archimedes Principle
Law: A body floating or submerged in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the water it displaces

Archimedes Principle
Ship sinks until weight of water displaced by the underwater volume is less to the weight of the ship.
Forces of gravity: Forces of buoyancy: G = mshipg =Wship B = rwaterVdisplaced

Wship = rwaterVdisplaced

Hydrostatics Terminology

As draft & displacement increase, freeboard and reserve buoyancy decrease

Moments
Depending on location of G and B, two types of moments:
Righting moment: tends to return ship to upright position Upsetting moment: tends to overturn ship

Magnitude of righting moment:

RM = W * GZ (ft-tons) GZ: moment arm (ft)

Metacenter
Define as the intersection of two successive lines of action of the force of buoyancy as ship heels through small angles (M)
If angle too large, M moves off centerline

Metacentric height
Ships Metacentric height is define as distance from center of gravity (G) to the metacenter is known as the ships METACENTRIC HEIGHT(GM)

Metacenter
Relationship between G and M
G under M: ship is stable G = M: ship neutral G over M: ship unstable

STABLE

UNSTABLE

Anti-heeling systems
Immediate response with unlimited start/stop frequency Allows safer, more rapid loading and unloading Shortens harbour time, saving port dues Reduces damage to ramps, rolling cargo, cell guides and containers No moving parts in contact with water for long life

Passive tank stabilisation

Retractable stabilisers

Fixed stabilisers