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Part A
Freeboard

1 Minimum Freeboard

1.1 The minimum freeboard shall be that freeboard at which the vessel meets the stability requirements as determined by a simplified stability proof test, carried out in accordance with regulation III/8 or other requirements that the Administration considers appropriate in relation to the type of vessel, its service and its area of operation. The minimum freeboard shall not be less than 250mm (10 inches). Where the least freeboard of the loaded vessel occurs abaft a point 0.75x the length of the vessel from the foreside of the foremost fixed permanent structure, the minimum freeboard shall be taken to be the freeboard measured at that point. The deepest load waterline shall be the loadline equivalent to the minimum freeboard.

1.2 When demonstrating compliance with III/8.12 or.13, the freeboard shall be measured as follows—
1. .1 For a flush deck or well deck vessel, the freeboard shall be measured to the top of the weatherdeck at the side of the vessel; and
1. .2 For a cockpit vessel or for an open boat, the freeboard shall be measured to the top of the gunwale.

2 Loading Marks

A vessel shall have permanent loading marks placed on each side of the vessel forward, amidships and aft to indicate the maximum allowable draft and trim corresponding to the minimum freeboard determined according to regulation III/1. Such a loading mark shall be a horizontal line of at least 200mm (8 inches) in length forward and aft and 300mm (12 inches) amidships and 25mm (1 inch) in height, with its upper edge passing through the point of maximum draft. The loading mark shall be painted in a contrasting colour to the sideshell paint.

3 Loading of a vessel

3.1 Except as provided in regulation III/3.2 the loading marks of a vessel shall not be submerged at any time when a vessel puts to sea, during a voyage or on arrival.

3.2 When a vessel departs from a port situated on a river or inland waters, deeper loading shall be permitted corresponding to the weight of fuel and all other materials required for consumption between the point of departure and the sea.

Part B
Stability

4 Stability Information for Operating Personnel

Stability information, i.e. stability details indicated on the Certificate of Inspection, a stability letter or a stability booklet, as determined by the [Administration], is required on all vessels. Sufficient stability information including stability calculations and assumptions made to use them, shall be provided on vessels for the master to be able to determine the stability of the vessel in various loading conditions in relation to accepted standards.

5 Stability Information

5.1 Where the Administration determines in accordance with III/4, that a vessel must have a stability booklet, the owner or operator shall prepare the booklet in accordance with Annex 2A and submit it to the Administration for approval.

5.2 Where the Administration determines in accordance with III/4, that the stability information shall be in the form of a stability letter or details indicated on the Certificate of Inspection, the owner or operator of the vessel shall submit to the Administration the following information and the necessary calculations used to determine that information—
1. .1 allowable number of passengers and crew on each deck;
1. .2 Deepest waterline drafts or freeboard;
1. .3 location of watertight bulkheads and openings in watertight bulkheads
1. .4 explanation of the vessel's subdivision and specific identification of the vessels subdivision bulkheads;
1. .5 location of openings through watertight bulkheads, such as watertight doors, which must be closed to limit flooding in an emergency;
1. .6 location, type and amount of fixed ballast;
1. .7 location and details of foam flotation material; and
1. .8 maximum weight of portable equipment permitted on the vessel, including diving equipment.

6 Intact stability requirements in general

6.1 A vessel shall undergo a simplified stability proof test in accordance with regulation III/8 in the presence of an Administration surveyor.

6.2 A simplified stability proof test in accordance with regulation III/8 is conducted to determine where a vessel, as built and operated, has a minimum level of initial stability. Failure of the simplified test does not necessarily mean that the vessel lacks stability for the intended operating area, service, and operating condition, but that calculations or other methods shall be used to evaluate the stability of the vessel.

6.3 The stability of a vessel certified to operate in exposed waters shall be determined by calculation to the satisfaction of the Administration.

7 Intact stability requirements for a sailing vessel

7.1 Subject to III/7.3, each sailing vessel shall undergo a simplified stability proof test in accordance with regulation III/8.

7.2 A sailing vessel that operates in coastal or exposed waters shall be equipped with a self-bailing cockpit.

7.3 The Administration may perform operational tests to determine whether the vessel has adequate stability and satisfactory handling characteristics under sail for protected waters or coastal waters, in lieu of conducting a simplified stability proof test.

7.4 The Administration may prescribe additional or different stability requirements for a broad, shallow draft vessel with little or no ballast outside the hull.

8 Simplified stability proof test procedure and assumptions

8.1 A vessel shall be in the condition specified in III/8.2 to III/8.8 inclusive when a simplified stability proof test is performed.

8.2 The vessel shall be moored in a quiet, sheltered area free from extraneous forces such as propeller wash from passing vessels, or sudden discharges from shore-side pumps, and in a manner to allow unrestricted heeling.

8.3 The construction of the vessel shall be complete in all respects

8.4 Ballast, where necessary, shall be in compliance with regulation III/9 and shall be on board and in place.

8.5 Each fuel and water tank shall be approximately three-quarters full.

8.6 A weight equal to the total weight of all passengers, crew, and other loads permitted on the vessel shall be on board and distributed so as to provide normal operating trim and to simulate the vertical centre of gravity causing the least stable condition that is likely to occur in service. For the purposes of regulation III/8 the crew shall be counted as passengers.

8.7 Unless otherwise specified, weight and vertical centre of gravity is assumed to be as follows—
1. .1 the weight of primary lifesaving equipment shall be simulated at its normal location, if not on board at the time of the test;
1. .2 the weight of one person is considered to be 75 kg (166 pounds) except where the vessel operates exclusively on protected waters, when passenger loads consist of men, women and children, the weight of one person is considered to be 65kg (143 pounds);
1. .3 the vertical centre for the simulated weight of passengers, crew, and other loads shall be at least 760mm (2.5 feet) above the relevant deck; and
1. .4 where the vessel carries passengers on diving excursions, the total weight of diving gear shall be included in the loaded condition, in the positions they would normally be carried, as follows—
  1. .1 the total weight of individual diving gear for each passenger carried is assumed to be 36kg (80 pounds), which includes the weight of scuba tanks, harness, regulator, weight belt, wet suit, mask, and other personal diving equipment; and
  1. .2 the weight of any air compressors carried.

8.8 On vessels having one upper deck above the main deck available to passengers, the vertical weight distribution shall not be less than the following—

Weight on Upper Deck = (# of passengers on upper deck) x (Wt per passenger) x 1.33

Weight on Main Deck = Total Test Weight – Weight on Upper Deck

8.9 All non-return closures on cockpit scuppers or on weather deck drains shall be kept open during the test.

8.10 A vessel shall not exceed the limitations in III/8.12, when subjected to the greater of the following heeling moments—

Mp = (W)(Bp)/6; or

Mw = (P)(A)(H)

where—

Mp =		passenger heeling moment in kilogram-metres (foot-pounds);
W =		the total passenger weight using 75kg (165 pounds) per passenger, or, where the vessel operates exclusively on protected waters, 65kg (143 pounds) per passenger may be used;
B_p =		the maximum transverse distance in metres (feet) of a deck that is accessible to passengers;
M_w =		wind heeling moment in kilogram-metres (foot-pounds);
P =		wind pressure of— (a) 36.6 kilograms/square metre (7.5 pounds/square foot) for operation on protected waters; (b) 48.8 kilogram/square metre (10.0 pounds/square foot) for operation on coastal waters; or (c) 73.3 kilograms/square metre (15.0 pounds/square foot) for operation on exposed waters;
A =	area, in square metres (square feet), of the projected lateral surface of the vessel above the waterline, including each projected area of the hull, superstructure and area bounded by railings and structural canopies. For sailing vessels this is the bare poles area, or, where the vessel has no auxiliary power, with storm sails set; and
H =	height, in metres (feet), of the centre of area (A) above the waterline, measured up from the waterline.

8.11 For sailing vessels the heeling moment used for this test shall be the greater of the following—

.1 Passenger heeling moment from III/8.10.

.2 Wind heeling moment from III/8.10.

.3 Wind heeling moment calculated from the wind heeling moment equation in III/8.10 as Mw = (P)(A)(H), where—

M_w =	wind heeling moment in kilogram-metres (foot-pounds);
P =	4.9 kilograms/square metre (1.0 pounds/square foot);
A =	the windage area of the vessel in square metres (square feet) with all sails set and trimmed flat;
H =	height, in metres (feet), of the centre of effort of area (A) above the waterline, measured up from the waterline.

8.12.1 When a vessel is subjected to the greater of the heeling moments determined in regulation III/8.10, the immersion of the loading mark shall not exceed the percentage of the freeboard specified in the following—
1. .1 on a flush deck vessel, 50%;
1. .2 on a well deck vessel that operates on protected waters and has non-return scuppers or freeing ports, 100% where the full freeboard is not more than one-quarter of the vertical distance from the waterline to the gunwale;
1. .3 on all other well deck vessels, 50%
1. .4 on a cockpit vessel, the percentage is calculated from the following—
1. on exposed waters: (2L - 1.5LN)/4L
1. on protected or coastal waters: (2L – LN)/4L
  1. where—
  1. L = length of the weather deck; and
  1. LN = length of cockpit in the same units as L.
1. .5 on an open boat, 25%;
1. .6 on a flush deck sailing vessel, 100%

8.12.2 Notwithstanding the percentages specified in regulation 8.12.1, when the vessel is subject to the greater of the heeling moments determined in regulation III/8.10, the immersion shall not exceed a value equivalent to one eighth of the beam of the vessel measured at the point of minimum freeboard as defined in regulation III/1.1

8.13 Where during a simplified stability proof test a vessel fails to meet the requirements of regulation III/8.12, the entire test shall be repeated with a reduced load equivalent to a reduced number of passengers or a reduced weight of cargo or by utilising any other corrective measures available to enable the vessel to meet the requirements of regulation III/8.12.

8.14 A ferry shall also be tested by using equivalent weights, by calculation, or other method acceptable to the Administration to determine whether the trim or heel during loading or unloading will submerge the deck edge. A ferry passes this test where, with the total number of passengers and the maximum vehicle weight permitted on board, the deck edge is not submerged during loading or unloading of the vessel.

8.15 The Small Commercial Vessel Stability Test Procedure is given in Annex 2.

9 Installation of Ballast

Any solid fixed ballast shall be stowed in a manner that prevents shifting of the ballast and be installed to the satisfaction of the Administration.

10 Open Boats

An open boat when fully loaded shall have sufficient buoyancy to be able to remain afloat and should have a positive metacentric height, that is, the vessel returns to the upright when a heeling moment is applied and removed, when totally flooded. The open boat shall be deemed by the Administration to have sufficient buoyancy by practical test or where detailed calculations are confirmed to show that the buoyancy of the vessel is greater than the total weight of the vessel and its load.

11 Foam flotation material

11.1 Foam may only be installed as flotation material on a vessel when approved by the Administration.

11.2 Where foam is installed as flotation material on a vessel, the owner shall ensure that the following tests are conducted and requirements are met to the satisfaction of the Administration—
1. .1 foam shall not be installed in void spaces that contain ignition sources;
1. .2 foam shall not be installed adjacent to fuel tanks, unless the boundary between the tank and the space has double continuous fillet welds;
1. .3 the structure enclosing foam shall be strong enough to accommodate the buoyancy of the foam;
1. .4 piping and cables shall not pass through foamed spaces unless they are within piping and cableways accessible from both ends;
1. .5 blocked foam shall—
  1. .1 be used in each area that may be exposed to water; and
  1. .2 have a protective cover, approved by the administration, to protect it from damage;
1. .6 foam used as floatation material shall be—
  1. .1 impervious to water absorption;
  1. .2 structurally stable under service conditions;
  1. .3 chemically inert in relation to other medium with which it may be in contact;
  1. .4 properly secured in place; and
  1. .5 easily removable for inspection of the void space.
1. .7 a water submergence test shall be conducted on the foam for a period of at least 7 days to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Administration that the foam has adequate strength to withstand a hydrostatic head equivalent to that which would be imposed if the vessel were submerged to its bulkhead deck;
1. .8 the owner or operator shall obtain sample foam specimens during installation of the foam and determine the density of the installed foam.