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SHIP STABILITY

DEFINE SLACK TANKS

It refers to the tendency of liquids and of

LESSON 5:EFFECT AND SLACK TANKS

5.1.1 EFFECT ON POSITION OF THE SHIP

CENTRE OF GRAVITY WHEN TANKS FULL OF
LIQUID

unbound aggregates of small solid objects, like

seeds, gravel, or crushed ore, whose behavior
approximates that of liquids to move in response
to changes in the attitude of a craft's cargo holds,
decks, or liquid tanks in reaction to operator
induced motions (or sea states caused by waves
and wind acting upon the craft). When referring
to the free surface effect, the condition of a tank
that is not full is described as a "slack tank",
while a full tank is "pressed up".

5.1.2 CENTRE OF GRAVITY OF

LIQUID FILLED TANKS DURING
ROLLING

When a vessel with a full tank is heeled, the

liquid within the tank acts like a solid mass. Its

centre of gravity, being the centre of its volume,
remains constant and therefore does not cause
any change in the vessels centre of gravity (G)
or its metacentric height (GM) as the vessel is
heeled.

When a vessel with a partially-filled tank is

heeled, the liquid will seek to remain parallel with

the waterline. The centre of gravity of the liquid,
being the centre of its volume, will move with the
liquid and can have a considerable effect upon
the vessels stability. This effect is similar to that
caused by adding weight on deck, i.e. rise of the
vessels centre of gravity (G) which causes a
decrease in the vessels metacentric height (GM)

5.1.3 TANKERS THE TANKS

CONSTRUCTED WITH
LONGITUDINAL SUBDIVISION
IF THE TANK IS SUBDIVIDED

LONGITUDINALLY THE VIRTUAL RISE IN YHE

POSITION OF THE CENTRE OF GRAVITY IS
REDUCED AND THE REDUCTION IN
METACENTRIC HEIGHT IS NOT SO SEVERE
AS IF THE TANK WAS NOT SUBDIVIDED. THE
CARGO TANKS IN OIL TANKERS ARE
SUBDIVIDED FOR THIS REASON AND THE
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS WITHIN THE
TANKS ALSO REDUCE THE FREE SURFACE
EFFECT.