CHAPTER FIVE

Longitudinal Stability, i.e. Trim

Trim is the difference between the draft at the for’d perpendicular (FP) and the draft at the aft
perpendicular (AP). If there is no difference, ship is on even keel.

Change of Trim is the difference between the original trim and the final trim.

Centre of Flotation (LCF) or Tipping centre (TC) is the geometrical 2-dimensional centre
of the waterplane. It is the point about which the ship trims. In effect it is the fulcrum of the
waterplane.

Trim ratio aft

eck
Upper d trim
ratio
LCF q for'd
q q
T.

BP
Le ngth L FP.
C.of

C. of T. = Change of trim

AP.

Figure 5.1

In the above diagram  is the angle of trim Fig. 5.1 indicates that:

Change of Trim
Tan  D
LBP
Trim ratio for’d
also Tan  D
LCF to FP
Trim ratio aft
also Tan  D
LCF to AP

By using Fig. 5.1 and transposing the above formulae

LCF to FP
Change of Trim ð D trim ratio for’d in metres.
LBP
LCF to AP
and Change of Trim ð D trim ratio aft in metres.
LBP
90 Ship Stability – Notes & Examples

To find the moment to change trim one centimetre (MCT 1 cm) which is the moment required
to change the trim by one centimetre. This is a very important value with trim calculations. It
is used to calculate the change of Trim.
ML

q
A)
overall (LO L = LB
P
Length

G1 G q
q
B FP
CF B1
K
AP

Figure 5.2

In the figure above Note:

ML is the longitudinal metacentre. LBP
D 96% approximately. Amidships is
G is centre of gravity before trimming. LOA
midway between AP and FP i.e. LBP/2. It
G1 is centre of gravity after trimming. is not the midway or midlength of LOA on
most merchant ships.
B is centre of buoyancy before trimming.
B1 is centre of buoyancy after trimming.
 is the angle of trim.

GG1 Change of trim

Now D Tan  D
GML Length of the vessel
GML ð change of trim
GG1 D
Length of vessel
 
GML 1
GG1 D if change of trim is 1 cm: 1 cm D m
100L 100
⎛ ⎞
wðd GML ⎜⎜as GG1 D w ð d and w ð d is moment in tonnes-metres⎟
⎟
or D
W 100L ⎝ W ⎠
W is displacement in tonnes
W ð GML
or wðdD
100L
 Longitudinal stability, i.e. Trim 91

but w ð d is the moment which has changed the trim one centimetre.

W ð GML
∴ MCT 1 cm D tonnes metres (tm).
100 L

Approximation of MCT 1 cm for a box-shaped vessel

W ð GML L2
MCT 1 cm D . Now GML ≏ BML and BML D
100 ð L 12 Ð d
 
⊲1.025 ð L ð B ð d⊳ L2 1.025 Ð LÐ B L
Hence MCT 1 cm ≏ ð D ð
100 ð L 12d 100 12

1.025 Ð T 100 Ð T
∴ MCT 1 cm ≏ ð L/12 D T ð where T = TPC.
1.025 12 ð 1.025 Ð B

100 Ð T2 8 Ð 1 ð T2 8 ð T2
Thus, MCT 1 cm for a box-vessel ≏ D ≏ tm/cm.
12.3B B B
7.8 ð T2
For Oil Tankers, a figure of MCT 1 cm D is a good approximation.
B
7.2 ð T2
For General Cargo ships, MCT 1 cm D approximately.
B

WORKED EXAMPLE 38

For a General Cargo Ship, the TPC is 21.05 and the Breadth moulded is 19.75 m. Calculate the
approximate MCT 1 cm.

7.2 ð ⊲TPC⊳2 7.2 ð 21.052

MCT 1 cm D D
B 19.75
∴ MCT 1 cm D 161.54 tm/cm approximately.

Procedure for Trim problems

1. Make a sketch from the given information. Label given values.

2. Estimate the mean bodily sinkage, remembering to convert the units to metres.

3. Calculate the Change of Trim, using each lever measured from the LCF position. Convert
units to metres.

4. Calculate the trim ratio forward and aft about the LCF position, measuring to the AP and
the FP.