The preparation for a load line survey will involve ensuring that the hull is

watertight below the freeboard deck and weather tight above it (cargo tank lids on
tankers must be watertight). The following checks should be conducted prior to
survey: 1)Vessel's structural strength is sufficient. 2)The decks or hulls are not
badly corroded. 3)There is no crack on deck or hull. 4)All dogs, clamps and hinges
should be free and greased. Gaskets and other sealing arrangements should not
show signs of perishing 5)Ensure that doors can be opened from both sides. Ensure
that door labels such as ‘To be kept closed at sea’ are in place. 6)Hatch ways and
hatch openings are weather tight. Securing devices such as clamps, cleats and
wedges are to be all in place, well greased and adjusted to provide optimum sealing
between the hatch cover and compression bar on the coaming. 7)Check the
efficiency and securing of portable beams. 8)Inspect all machinery space openings
on exposed decks. 9)All ventilators on deck and their coamings are in good
condition. 10)Check that manhole covers on the freeboard deck are capable of
being made watertight. 11)Cargo ports and other similar openings below freeboard
deck are watertight.
12)Non-return valves, overboard discharging valves are operational. 13)Pumping
arrangements in steering flat and forepeak tanks are in good condition.
14)Portholes, funnel flaps, sky lights in good condition and operational. 15)Check
Bulwarks, railings are in good condition. 16)Deck line, loadline and draft markings
are well painted. On the day of the survey ensure that the Load Line certificate and
the ship’s record of particulars are available for inspection. The master / chief
officer should have sufficient stability information to show that the vessel can load
and ballasted correctly. Sufficient manpower should be made available for the
operations of hatch covers and the rigging of staging and ladders to allow the
surveyor to view the load line and draught marks. The ship’s stability data book
should also be on hand for inspection.
Source : https://www.jahajee.com/What-preparations-are-to-be-done-for-load-
line-survey/