Loading Conditions Introduction

A complete description of a specific loading condition is a unique combination of the lightship and of the distributed deadweight at the start, end or during a specific operational voyage. The voyage will generally be to convey a certain cargo, both in material and volume, together with other material such as stores, fuel oil, lub oil and other consumables, crew and effects, Alternatively the voyage may be with the vessel in a ballast condition with ballast in lieu of cargo. The vessel’s various loading conditions, combining lightweight and alternative deadweight dispositions, are important aspects regarding both longitudinal strength and trim and stability issues.

The Loading Condition module produces a loading condition report containing the detailed loading of compartments, the equilibrium drafts and hydrostatics, the associated righting lever (GZ) curve and stability check, plus a check on the longitudinal strength. The stability and longitudinal strength checks are optional and the report can be extensively tailored to meet your specific requirements.

In addition to the normal mandatory still water longitudinal strength calculations for the various loading conditions, Calc will also produce vertical bending moment and shear force distributions for the same conditions but with the vessel statically balanced on either the crest of a single wave or subtended between two waves, using the wave data that was input with the Ship General Data activities. This, however, is a purely static balancing process and no dynamic, inertial, effects are considered.

Loading conditions are defined by way of displacement and centre of gravity and as such, lightship and deadweight items and their distributions need to be properly defined. Since the actual stability of a loading condition (as well as the critical stability) will be of great importance, defining the exact distribution of liquids is imperative.