states minimum stability requirements required by Load Line Rules 1966

Loadline convention basically limits the ships on the minimum freeboard it needs
to maintain. The minimum freeboard required by the loadline convention is calculated by
taking into account many factors including reserve buoyancy of the ship. Loadline
convention applies to ships of more than 24 meters in length.
If any part of the deck above the compartment considered flooded is submerged,
the residual stability should be investigated and verified the following: – There is a
possible heeling of 20° beyond the position of equilibrium – It has a maximum value of
the stability arm ≥ 0.1 m – The dynamic stability up to that value must be ≥ 0.0175
m.rad.
1.1.2 states the minimum stability requirements and recommendations of the Intact
Stability Code

According to the International Code on Intact stability, 2008, the following criteria
are mandatory for passenger and cargo ships constructed on or after 1st January 2010:

a. The area under the righting lever curve (GZ curve) should not be less than 0.055
metre-radians up to 30° angle of heel.

b. The area under the righting lever curve (GZ curve) should not be less than 0.09
metreradians up to 40° angle of heel or the angle of downflooding if this is less than 40°.

c. The area under the righting curve between the angles of heel of 30° and 40° or
between 30° and the angle of downflooding if this angle is less than 40°, should not be
less than 0.03 metre-radians.

d. The righting lever GZ should be at least 0.20 m at an angle of heel equal to or greater
than 30°.

e. The maximum righting arm should occur at an angle of heel preferably exceeding 30°
but not less than 25°.

f. The initial metacentric height GMo should not be less than 0.15 m.

g. Severe wind and rolling criterion (weather criterion)

In addition to the criteria described above, ships covered by the 2008 IS Code should
meet a weather criterion that considers the effect of strong beam wind and waves
applied when the vessel is in dead ship condition.

1.1.3 explains the use of the weather criterion

The weather criterion is one of stability criteria to verify ability of a ships to
withstand the combined effects of severe wind and rolling criteria in dead ship condition.

The ability of a ship to withstand the combined effects of beam wind and rolling
should be demonstrated for each standard condition of loading, as follows:

a. the ship is subjected to a steady wind pressure acting perpendicular to the ship's
centreline which results in a steady wind heeling level (1w1).

b. from the resultant angle of equilibrium (θo), the ship is assumed to roll owing to
wave action to an angle of roll (θ 1) to windward. Attention should be paid to the
effect of steady wind so that excessive resultant angles of heel are avoided;

c. the ship is then subjected to a gust wind pressure which results in a gust wind
heeling lever (1w2);

d. under these circumstances, area “b” should be equal to or greater than area “a”;

e. free surface effects should be accounted for in the standard conditions of

loading.

1.1.4 demonstrates the use of IMO Grain Regulations

The International Grain Code applies to ships regardless of size, including those
of less than 500 gross tonnage, engaged in the carriage of grain in bulk and to which
part C of SOLAS chapter VI applies. The purpose of the Code is to provide an
international standard for the safe carriage of grain in bulk.
The intact stability characteristics of any ship carrying bulk grain must be shown
to meet, throughout the voyage, three criteria relating to the moments due to grain shift:
(1) the angle of heel due to the shift of grain shall not be greater than 12° or—in the
case of ships constructed on or after 1 January 1994—the angle at which the deck edge
is immersed, whichever is the lesser; (2) in the statical stability diagram, the net or
residual area between the heeling arm curve and the righting arm curve up to the angle
of heel of maximum difference between the ordinates of the two curves, or 40° or the
angle of flooding, whichever is the least, shall be not less than 0.075 metre-radians in all
conditions of loading; and (3) the initial metacentric height, after correction for free
surface effects of liquids in tanks, shall not be less than 0.30 m. Before loading bulk
grain, the master shall, if so required by the contracting government of the country of
the port of loading, demonstrate the ability of the ship at all stages of any voyage to
comply with the required stability criteria. After loading, the master shall ensure that the
ship is upright before proceeding to sea.
1.1.5 describes the requirements for passenger ship stability after damage
Passenger ships – Longitudinal extent of damage; 3m + 3% of L or, 11m
whichever is least. Where the required factor of subdivision is 0.33 or less the
longitudinal extent must be increased to include flooding of any three consecutive
compartments.
The final condition of the vessel after damage and, in the case of unsymmetrical
flooding, after equalization measures have been taken shall be as follows:

a. in the case of symmetrical flooding there shall be a positive residual metacentric

height of at least 0.05m as calculated by the constant displacement method;
b. in the case of unsymmetrical flooding, the equilibrium angle of heel (өEQ) for
one-compartment flooding shall not exceed 7°. For the simultaneous flooding of
two or more adjacent compartments, the equilibrium angle of heel shall not
exceed 12°;
c. in no case shall the margin line be submerged in the final stage of flooding.

Knowledge of Life-Saving Appliance Regulations (SOLAS)

1.1 Life-Saving Appliance Regulations (SOLAS)
1.1.1 Life-Saving Appliance Regulations (SOLAS)
- demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the regulations concerning life-saving
appliances and arrangements (SOLAS), including the LSA Code
The carriage of life-saving appliances are made mandatory as per the SOLAS
Convention. The International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code provides more specific
technical requirements for the manufacturing, testing, maintenance and record keeping
of life-saving appliances. The LSA Code applies to all life-saving appliances and
arrangements and was made mandatory under SOLAS in 1996. It entered into force on
1 July 1998 and was amended several times between 2008 and 2016.
1.2 Organization of Fire and Abandon Ship Drills
1.2.1 Organization of Fire and Abandon Ship Drills
Abandon ship drills and fire drills are covered by the provisions on occupational
safety and health on board ships and should be planned, organised and performed so
that they are safe in every respect. Musters, lifeboat and fire-fighting drills and drills
prescribed by national laws and regulations and by international instruments shall be
conducted in a manner that minimises the disturbance of rest periods and does not
induce fatigue. The safety equipment should be checked and maintained in accordance
with the manufacturer's instructions, and observing all the precautionary measures
necessary. It is important to check the conditions of the equipment. Abnormal conditions
of wear and tear or corrosion should be reported to the master immediately.
- prepares schedules for the conduct of fire and abandon ship drills so that all required
drills and equipment are covered within required timeframes
Experience has shown that more drills than required by SOLAS are held on
Danish passenger ships. This is positive and generally furthers the aim of drills, in that
the crew gain experience in the use of the safety equipment and in cooperation. The
ability to cope with an emergency and handle the situation if the ship needs to be
abandoned or a fire needs to be extinguished is well rehearsed. During drills, it is also
checked that the equipment is in place and in good working order, ready for use. There
will, however, be elements of drills that should be carried out only at the intervals
required, as described in the guidelines below. In passenger ships there must be an
abandon ship drill and a fire drill every week but it is permissible for these drills not to
include all the crew as long as the requirement for participation by each crew member at
least once per month is met.
- discusses ways in which crew can be motivated to participate fully in drills
The purpose of carrying out any kind of drill on the ships is to make the crew acquainted
with various procedures to be followed during emergency situations. It is a way to make
the ship personnel acquainted with the equipment and methods that are to be used
during a crises situation.
Abandon ship drills and fire drills are covered by the provisions on occupational safety
and health on board ships and should be planned, organised and performed so that
they are safe in every respect.
- prepares plans for effective drills
SOLAS requires that drills shall, as far as practicable, be conducted as if there
were an actual emergency.1) This means that the entire drill should, as far as possible,
be carried out. The point is that, at the same time, it must be ensured that the drill can
be carried out in such a way that is safe in every respect. Consequently, elements of the
drill that may involve unnecessary risks need special attention or may be excluded from
the drill. The lowering of a boat with its full complement of persons or the sliding down
or through a Marine Evacuation System (MES) are examples of elements of drills that
may – depending on the circumstances – involve an unnecessary risk. Such elements
of drills should only be carried out if special precautions are observed and, if necessary,
left out of the drill. Nevertheless, the importance of drills must be maintained.
- organizes effective drills including the briefing, conduct and debriefing of the drill
- discusses the process for ensuring that required changes are made to the safety
management system and on board procedures as a result of the lessons learnt from
drills
1.3 Maintenance of Operational Condition of Life-Saving, Fire-fighting and Other Safety Systems

1.3.1 Maintenance of Life-saving, Fire-fighting and Other Safety Systems

- discusses the use and upkeep of the SOLAS training manual in terms of the safety equipment provided
and the required maintenance of this equipment

- prepares procedures and checklists for the inspection of lifesaving, fire fighting and other safety
systems on board

- ensures that regular inspections of lifesaving, fire fighting and other safety systems on board are
undertaken and that any deficiencies are identified and rectified

- prepare procedures and schedules for the maintenance of lifesaving, fire fighting and other safety
systems on board

- prepares schedules for the required survey of lifesaving, fire fighting and other safety systems on board

- - prepares for and supports the survey of lifesaving, fire fighting and other safety systems on board

- prepares procedures and checklists for the inspection of watertight doors, side scuttles, cross flooding
arrangements, valves and other closing mechanisms

- prepares maintenance plans and procedures for watertight doors, side scuttles, cross flooding
arrangements, valves and other closing mechanisms