Marine Orders Part 16: Load Lines, Issue 3 (Cth)
MARINE ORDERS
Part 16
Load Lines
Issue 3
Compilation No. 3
This compilation was prepared on 1 July 2010 taking into account the amendments made by Marine Orders Part 16, Issue 3 (Amendment), (Order No. 7 of 2010).
Prepared by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra.
Previous issues
Issue 1, Order No. 3 of 1987
— Amended by Order No. 3 of 1994
Issue 2, Order No. 12 of 1997
Issue 3, Order No. 11 of 2004
— Amended by Order No. 7 of 2008
— Amended by Order No. 7 of 2010
Table of contents
Purpose and power....................................................................................................................... 1
Definitions of words and phrases used in this Part................................................................... 1
Interpretation.................................................................................................................................. 2
Application..................................................................................................................................... 3
Equivalents..................................................................................................................................... 3
Review of decisions...................................................................................................................... 3
Convention requirements.............................................................................................................. 4
7A Assigning authority to inform Manager, Ship Inspections......................................................... 4
Approvals for experimental purposes......................................................................................... 4
Applications for exemption........................................................................................................... 5
Unified interpretations................................................................................................................... 5
Strength of ship.............................................................................................................................. 5
Assignment of increased freeboard............................................................................................ 5
Minimum bow height..................................................................................................................... 6
Non‑Load Line Convention ships................................................................................................ 6
Information to be carried............................................................................................................... 6
Entries to be made in the official log‑book................................................................................. 7
Surveys........................................................................................................................................... 7
Certificate issued by survey authority.......................................................................................... 9
Extension of certificate.................................................................................................................. 9
Certificate ceases to be valid...................................................................................................... 9
Alterations...................................................................................................................................... 9
Overloading.................................................................................................................................. 10
Markings....................................................................................................................................... 11
Appendix Draught marks.......................................................................................................... 12
1 Purpose and power
1.1 Purpose
This Part of Marine Orders gives effect to the Load Line Convention and generally makes provision for and in relation to load lines. It also prescribes entries relating to load lines to be made in the official log-book of an Australian registered ship.
1.2 Power
1.2.1 Section 220 of the Navigation Act provides that the regulations may make provision for and in relation to giving effect to the Load Line Convention and generally may make provision for and in relation to load lines, including the assigning of, and the survey of ships for the purpose of assigning, load lines to ships and the marking of load lines on ships.
1.2.2 Section 171 of the Navigation Act provides that the master of a ship shall make, or cause to be made, such entries in that log-book as are prescribed.
1.2.3 Subsection 425 (1) of the Navigation Act provides for regulations to be made prescribing matters required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.
1.2.4 Subsection 425 (1AA) of the Navigation Act provides that AMSA may make orders with respect to any matter for or in relation to which provision may be made by regulation.
2 Definitions of words and phrases used in this Part
AMSA means the Australian Maritime Safety Authority established by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990;
assigning authority means:
(a) in the case of a ship whose freeboard is assigned or to be assigned by a survey authority — that survey authority; or
(b) in the case of any other ship — the Manager, Ship Inspections;
General Manager means the person occupying the position of General Manager, Maritime Operations, in AMSA;
IMO means the International Maritime Organization;
load line certificate means, in the case of a ship registered in Australia, the certificate issued or to be issued under paragraph 222 (a) or (b) of the Navigation Act, as the case may be, in respect of the ship;
Manager, Ship Inspections means the person occupying the position of Manager, Ship Inspections in AMSA or, in respect of any particular purpose under this Part, a suitably qualified person authorised by the Manager, Ship Inspections for that purpose;
Navigation Act means the Navigation Act 1912;
penal provision means a penal provision for the purposes of regulation 4 of the Navigation (Orders) Regulations 1980;
Note Subregulation 4 (1) of the Navigation (Orders) Regulations 1980 provides that a person who fails to comply with a provision of an order made under subsection 425 (1AA) of the Navigation Act that is expressed to be a penal provision is guilty of an offence and is punishable by a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.
The maximum penalty that a court may impose on a body corporate that fails to comply with a penal provision is 250 penalty units.
SOLAS means the Safety Convention as defined in the Navigation Act;
SOLAS ship means a Safety Convention ship as defined in the Navigation Act;
survey authority means a corporation or association for the survey of shipping, approved by AMSA, in writing, for the purposes of the Navigation Act;
Note A list of approved survey authorities is available on AMSA’s website: means a person appointed to be a surveyor under section 190 of the Navigation Act;
the Load Line Convention has the same meaning as in the Navigation Act;
Note The current text of the Load Line Convention may be found in the IMO publication Load Lines Consolidated Edition 2005, as amended by IMO Resolutions MSC.223(82) and MSC.270(85).
USL Code means the Uniform Shipping Laws Code referred to in section 427 of the Navigation Act.
Note Information on obtaining copies of IMO documents referred to in this Part is available from AMSA’s website: or via e-mail: [email protected].
3 Interpretation
3.1 In this Part, unless otherwise provided or unless the context otherwise requires, words and phrases have the same meaning as they have in the Load Line Convention.
3.2 A reference to the Administration in:
(a) Article 19 (3) and Regulations 1 (1), 2 (8), 3 (9) (b), 8, 10 (2) (second mention), 10 (3) (e), 14 (2), 15 (7), 16 (1), 16 (6), 19 (3), 19 (5), 22 (6), 27 (8), 27 (11) (b) (v), 27 (13) (e), 27 (13) (f) and 44 (6) of the Load Line Convention means the assigning authority; and
(b) an Article or Regulation of the Load Line Convention not mentioned in paragraph (a), means the Manager, Ship Inspections.
3.3 The expression to the satisfaction of the Manager, Ship Inspections, or any similar expression appearing in this Part, means that the Manager, Ship Inspections may require the fitting, material, appliance or apparatus referred to, to be demonstrated to be safe and effective for its intended purpose.
Note Where equipment, material or fittings are required to be approved by or be acceptable to the Manager, Ship Inspections, those equipment, material or fittings, if approved by the Administration of a Contracting Government to the Convention or by a survey authority, may be accepted by the Manager, Ship Inspections provided sufficient information is submitted for recognition of the approval.
3.4 In this Part:
(a)headings and subheadings are part of the Part; and
(b)the Appendix is part of the Part; and
(c)a note is not part of the Part, but may provide additional information or guidance in applying the Part.
4 Application
4.1 Subject to 4.2, this Part applies to and in relation to:
(a) a ship registered in Australia, except to the extent that exemption from the provisions of this Part or of the Load Line Convention has been granted under section 221 of the Navigation Act; and
(b) a ship, other than a ship registered in Australia, that is in the territorial sea of Australia or in waters on the landward side of the territorial sea, except:
(i) where an exemption from the provisions of this Part has been granted under subsection 221 (6) or 221 (7) of the Navigation Act — to the extent of that exemption; or
(ii) where a valid international load line exemption certificate exists in relation to the ship — to the extent of any exemption from the provisions of the Load Line Convention specified in that certificate.
4.2 This Part does not apply to, or in relation to, a fishing vessel.
Note See provision 7.2 of Marine Orders, Part 12 (Construction — Subdivision & stability, machinery and electrical installations) in relation to construction and stability requirements for fishing vessels.
5 Equivalents
Where a provision of the Load Line Convention or other provision of this Part requires a particular fitting, material, appliance or apparatus, or type thereof, to be fitted or carried in a ship, or a particular provision to be made in a ship, the Manager, Ship Inspections may allow any other fitting, material, appliance or apparatus, or type thereof, to be fitted or carried, or any other provision to be made, if satisfied that the other fitting, material, appliance or apparatus, or type thereof, or provision, is at least as effective as that required by this Part.
Note Applications for the allowance of equivalents should be made to the Manager, Ship Inspections, and should be accompanied by relevant information. The Manager, Ship Inspections may seek additional information to assist in reaching a decision.
6 Review of decisions
6.1 Internal review
6.1.1 If the Manager, Ship Inspections makes a decision under this Part, a person affected by the decision may, within 3 months of the date of notification of the decision or such longer period as determined by the General Manager, apply to the General Manager for review of that decision.
6.1.2 An application for internal review under 6.1.1 must be made in writing to the General Manager and must be accompanied by such information as the General Manager requires to enable that officer to make a proper decision.
6.1.3 The General Manager may:
(a) affirm the original decision by the Manager, Ship Inspections; or
(b) make any decision that could be made by the Manager, Ship Inspections in accordance with this Part.
6.2 Review by the AAT
6.2.1 Application may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of a decision by the General Manager under 6.1.3.
6.2.2 The General Manager must give his or her decision in writing within 28 days of receiving the application for internal review. The notice must include a statement to the effect that, if the person is dissatisfied with the decision, application may, subject to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975, be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision. The notice must also include a statement to the effect that the person may request a statement under section 28 of that Act.
6.2.3 Failure to comply with 6.2.2 in relation to a decision does not affect the validity of that decision.
7 Convention requirements
The articles and regulations of the Load Line Convention have the force of law as part of the law of the Commonwealth in relation to all ships to which those articles and regulations are expressed to apply, except to the extent that the contrary intention is expressed in this Part or to the extent that the ship is exempted under section 221 of the Navigation Act.
7A Assigning authority to inform Manager, Ship Inspections
If an assigning authority, other than the Manager, Ship Inspections, decides to exercise a power under any of the following provisions of the Load Line Convention, the assigning authority must inform the Manager, Ship Inspections as soon as practicable of the decision:
(a) Article 19 (3);
(b) Regulation 3 (9) (b);
(c) Regulation 15 (7);
(d) Regulation 16 (6);
(e) Regulation 22 (6).
8 Approvals for experimental purposes
8.1The Manager, Ship Inspections may accept for experimental purposes a ship or a class of ships as complying with this Part, specifying for that purpose by written instrument:
(a) a provision of this Part, or of the articles or regulations of the Load Line Convention, to apply with such modifications as are specified in that instrument;
(b) appropriate freeboards to apply in lieu of those that would otherwise be assigned, together with the conditions of assignment appropriate to such freeboards;
(c) appropriate load lines to apply in lieu of those that would otherwise be marked;
(d) the manner of marking such load lines; and
(e) for the purposes of section 187C and 207 of the Navigation Act, the appropriate load line or appropriate subdivision load line at any specified time or times.
8.2 An instrument referred to in 8.1 may be expressed to apply for such period, not exceeding 5 years, as the Manager, Ship Inspections considers appropriate.
9 Applications for exemption
Application for exercise of any of AMSA’s powers of exemption under section 221 of the Navigation Act must be accompanied or supplemented by:
(a) in the case of a ship for which a load line certificate has not been issued under this Part — the information specified in 4.1.3.1 of the Annex to IMO Resolution A.997(25), as amended by A.1020(26); and
(b) in all cases — such additional information as the Manager, Ship Inspections considers necessary for the exercise of that power.
Note In order to avoid undue delay in completion of the assessment of an application for exemption, and facilitate provision of such additional information as may be required, each application should be made as early as possible.
10 Unified interpretations
An article or regulation of the Load Line Convention referred to in the unified interpretations of the Convention published by the IMO as circulars LL.3/Circ.55, LL.3/Circ.69, LL.3/Circ.77, LL.3/Circ.130, LL.3/Circ.155 and LL.3/Circ162 are to be read and applied in accordance with those circulars.
11 Strength of ship
Where freeboards are proposed to be assigned to a ship in accordance with this Part, they may be assigned only if the general structural strength of the ship is sufficient to permit it to be loaded to the draughts corresponding to those freeboards.
Note For the purposes of provision 11, a ship built and maintained in accordance with the requirements of a classification society recognised by the Administration of the country of registration of the ship is deemed to have the general structural strength required by that provision. For an Australian registered ship, a list of approved survey authorities is available on AMSA’s website: Assignment of increased freeboard
Where:
(a) the owner of a ship requests assignment of a greater summer freeboard than would otherwise be calculated in accordance with the regulations of the Load Line Convention; or
(b) the structural strength or the intact or damage stability characteristics of a ship necessitate assignment of a greater than minimum summer freeboard; or
(c) the Manager, Ship Inspections, as a condition of exemption from a provision of this Part or another Part of Marine Orders, requires assignment of a greater than minimum summer freeboard,
the circular mark forming part of the load line mark must be so placed that its centre is at amidships vertically below the deck line at a distance from the deck line corresponding to that greater freeboard.
13 Minimum bow height
For the purpose of Regulation 39 (3) of the Load Line Convention, the Manager, Ship Inspections, being satisfied that the safety of the ship and any person on board will not be adversely affected, may determine a lesser bow height to be permissible for a ship.
Note In relation to off‑shore industry mobile units, Marine Orders, Part 47 (Mobile Off‑shore Drilling Units) may also apply.
14 Non‑Load Line Convention ships
14.1 Ships 24 metres and over in length
The conditions of assignment applicable to a ship referred to in paragraph 222 (b) of the Navigation Act, being 24 metres and over in length, are the applicable provisions of parts 2, 3, 5 and 6 of section 7 of the USL Code rather than the corresponding provisions of the Load Line Convention.
14.2 Ships under 24 metres in length
14.2.1 The conditions of assignment applicable to a ship referred to in paragraph 222 (b) of the Navigation Act, being under 24 metres in length, are the applicable provisions of part 11 of section 7 of the USL Code rather than the corresponding provisions of the Load Line Convention.
14.2.2 The master and owner of a ship referred to in paragraph 222 (b) of the Navigation Act, being a ship under 24 metres in length, need not comply with provisions 15 to 23 inclusive of this Part, provided that a valid certificate of survey meeting the appropriate requirements of Marine Orders, Part 31 (Ship surveys and certification) is maintained in respect of the ship.
14.2.3 If a load line certificate is to be issued in respect of a ship referred to in paragraph 222 (b) of the Navigation Act, being under 24 metres in length, the requirements that must be met by the ship are those specified in 14.1.
Note AMSA has exempted any ship of less than 24 metres in length from the requirement for a load line certificate if the ship complies with the applicable provisions of the USL Code.
15 Information to be carried
15.1 Statement of assigning authority
15.1.1 The owner of a ship must provide to the ship:
(a) a statement by the assigning authority, substantially in the form set out in IMO Circular LL3./Circ.19, setting out the conditions of assignment of freeboard:
(i) specified in the Load Line Convention; or
(ii) in the case of a ship to which the Load Line Convention does not apply — specified in the relevant rules of the Administration of the country in which the ship is registered applying to the ship; and
(b) in the case of a ship referred to in provision 8 — the instrument referred to in that provision.
This is a penal provision.
15.1.2 The master of a ship must ensure that the statement referred to in 15.1.1 is available on the ship at all times.
This is a penal provision.
15.2 Loading information
15.2.1 For the purpose of compliance with Regulation 10 (1) of the Load Line Convention, the owner of a ship of 65 metres or more in length must provide to the ship:
(a) in the case of a ship classed by a survey authority — such loading stress information, including a loading manual and loading instrument, as is required by that authority; and
(b) in all other cases — such loading stress information as the Manager, Ship Inspections considers necessary to provide adequate guidance to the master.
This is a penal provision.
Note for paragraph (a) A 'loading instrument' includes a computer and any associated computer program approved by the survey authority.
Note for paragraph (b) Information marked by the survey authority or AMSA as approved will be taken to remain acceptable for the purpose of all subsequent inspections and surveys unless the ship has undergone structural modification necessitating the provision of amended information. In the case of an unclassed foreign ship, the loading information approved by the ship’s flag state will generally be acceptable under provision 15.2.1 (b). Ships to which SOLAS applies are also required to carry the stability information required by Chapter II-I of SOLAS.
15.2.2 The master of a ship must ensure that the information referred to in 15.2.1 is available on the ship at all times.
This is a penal provision.
16 Entries to be made in the official log‑book
For the purposes of subsection 171(1) of the Navigation Act, the master of an Australian registered ship must make such entries in the official log‑book as are set out in Parts II and III of the prescribed form of the official log-book.
This is a penal provision.
Note The prescribed form of the official log-book is set out as Form 6 in Appendix 1 of Marine Orders, Part 53 (Employment of Crews).
17 Surveys
17.1Initial, renewal and annual load line surveys of ships must be carried out in accordance with Article 14 of the Load Line Convention and IMO Resolution A.997(25): Survey guidelines under the harmonized system of survey and certification, 2007, as amended by IMO Resolution A.1020(26).
17.2 Initial survey
17.2.1 Application for initial survey of a ship under this Part must be made:
(a) if freeboards are to be assigned by the Manager, Ship Inspections — to any AMSA survey office; or
(b) if freeboards are to be assigned by a survey authority — to the survey authority.
17.2.2 Where, under the Load Line Convention, the means of closing hatchways and other openings are required to be weathertight or watertight, tests for weathertightness or watertightness, as the case may be, of those means must be made at the initial survey.
17.2.3 At the initial survey, the assigning authority must ascertain that:
(a) the information specified in provision 15 is carried on the ship; and
(b) the ship has been marked with:
(i) the seasonal load lines to be used in association with the load line mark; and
(ii) draught marks in accordance with provision 23.
17.3 Renewal survey
17.3.1 A ship must be subjected to a renewal survey in accordance with this Part at intervals not exceeding 5 years.
17.3.2 Subject to 17.3.3, application for a renewal survey in accordance with this Part must be made to the assigning authority for the existing load line certificate, who may require the applicant to furnish such plans and information as are necessary for the purposes of the survey.
17.3.3 Application for a renewal survey may be made to an assigning authority other than an assigning authority for the existing load line certificate and, in such case, the applicant must provide all relevant plans and documents to the assigning authority that will be carrying out the renewal survey.
17.3.4 Where, under the Load Line Convention, the means of closing hatchways and other openings are required to be weathertight or watertight, tests for weathertightness or watertightness, as the case may be, of those means must be made at each renewal survey.
17.3.5 At each renewal survey the assigning authority must ascertain that:
(a) the information specified in provision 15 is carried on the ship; and
(b) the ship has been marked with:
(i) the seasonal load lines to be used in association with the load line mark; and
(ii) draught marks in accordance with provision 23.
17.4 Annual survey
17.4.1 An annual survey is to be conducted for the existing load line certificate within three months of the anniversary date of that certificate:
(a) by the assigning authority; or
(b) if application is made by or on behalf of the owner for the survey to be conducted by a different assigning authority, by that authority.
17.4.2 At each annual survey the assigning authority must ascertain that:
(a) the information specified in provision 15 is carried on the ship; and
(b) the ship has been marked with:
(i) the seasonal load lines to be used in association with the load line mark; and
(ii) draught marks in accordance with provision 23.
18 Certificate issued by survey authority
Where a load line certificate is issued by a survey authority, the survey authority must furnish to the Manager, Ship Inspections:
(a) a copy of the certificate; and
(b) a copy of the record of conditions of assignment, referred to in provision 15.1, including, where the ship is assigned a reduced freeboard, the damage stability calculations upon which the assignment is based; and
(c) a statement setting out the details of the computation for freeboard.
19 Extension of certificate
19.1 The validity of an international load line certificate or an international load line exemption certificate may be extended by the assigning authority in accordance with Article 19(4) of the Load Line Convention.
19.2The validity of an Australian load line certificate may be extended by the Manager, Ship Inspections for a period not exceeding 3 months, provided that the Manager, Ship Inspections is satisfied that the safety of the ship and any person on board will not be adversely affected.
20 Certificate ceases to be valid
20.1 A load line certificate, an international load line certificate or an international load line exemption certificate, ceases to be valid if any of the circumstances mentioned in Article 19 (9) of the Load Line Convention exist.
Note The circumstances mentioned in Article 19 (9) are: (a) material alterations have occurred in the ship’s hull or superstructures that necessitate the assignment of an increased freeboard; (b) fittings and appliances to protect the openings, guard rails, freeing ports and means of access to a crew’s quarters are not maintained in an effective condition; (c) the load line certificate is not endorsed to show that the annual survey of the ship has occurred within 3 months before or after the anniversary date of the certificate; and (d) the ship’s structural strength has decreased to an extent that it is unsafe.
20.2 The owner of a ship in relation to which provision 20.1 applies must return the relevant certificate to the Manager, Ship Inspections or the assigning authority as soon as practicable after the certificate ceases to be valid.
20.3 Articles 19 (9) and (11) of the Load Line Convention apply to a certificate referred to in paragraph 222 (b) of the Navigation Act, as if it were an international load line certificate.
20.4 Further to the circumstances identified in Article 19 (10) of the Load Line Convention, an international load line exemption certificate issued to a ship under section 223 of the Navigation Act will cease to be valid if the ship does not comply with a safety requirement specified as a safety requirement with which the ship must comply.
21 Alterations
The owner of a ship must not permit an alteration referred to in Article 15 of the Load Line Convention to be made to the ship unless:
(a) written application for approval has been made to the assigning authority for the existing load line certificate, specifying the nature of the alteration proposed; and
(b) the proposed alteration has been approved by the assigning authority; and
(c) the alteration is in accordance with any conditions specified in the approval.
This is a penal provision.
22 Overloading
22.1.1 For the purposes of subsection 187C (5) of the Navigation Act, the appropriate load line at any time for:
(a) a ship registered in Australia; or
(b) a Load Line Convention ship registered in a country other than Australia;
is that load line marked on the ship, in accordance with the Load Line Convention, applicable for the season of the year and the zone in which the ship is located.
22.1.2 For the purposes of subsection 187C (5) of the Navigation Act, the appropriate load line at any time for a ship registered in a country other than Australia and not being a Load Line Convention ship is:
(a) if the ship is marked in accordance with the Load Line Convention — the load line applicable to the season of the year and the zone in which the ship is located; or
(b) if the ship is marked in any other manner — the load line that is stated in the ship's papers to be the appropriate load line for that ship at that time or, if that load line cannot be ascertained from the ship's papers, the lowest load line marked on the ship.
22.2.1If only one subdivision load line is marked on either side of a passenger ship, being:
(a) a ship registered in Australia; or
(b) a SOLAS ship registered in a country other than Australia;
that subdivision load line is, for the purposes of subsection 187C (5) of the Navigation Act, the appropriate subdivision load line at that time for that passenger ship.
22.2.2 Where:
(a) more than one subdivision load line is marked on each side of a passenger ship, being:
(i) a ship registered in Australia; or
(ii) a SOLAS ship registered in a country other than Australia; and
(b) passengers are at any time being carried in the spaces specified in relation to one of those subdivision load lines in the appropriate certificate for the ship;
the lowest subdivision load line is, for the purposes of subsection 187C (5) of the Navigation Act, the appropriate subdivision load line at that time for that ship.
22.2.3 In 22.2.2, the appropriate certificate means:
(a) for a ship registered in Australia — the passenger ship safety certificate or the certificate of survey as a passenger ship; and
(b) for a SOLAS ship registered in a country other than Australia — the passenger ship safety certificate.
22.2.4For the purposes of subsection 187C (5) of the Navigation Act, the appropriate subdivision load line at any time for a passenger ship, other than a ship referred to in 22.2.1 or 22.2.2, is the subdivision load line marked on the ship or, if more than one subdivision load line is marked on the ship, whichever of those subdivision load lines is stated in the ship's papers to be the subdivision load line applicable at that time or, if that subdivision load line cannot be ascertained from the ship's papers, the lowest subdivision load line marked on the ship.
23 Markings
23.1For the purposes of section 222 of the Navigation Act, the required markings for a ship are:
(a) the marks required by the Load Line Convention; and
(b) clearly visible draught marks in accordance with the Appendix.
23.2The owner of a ship must ensure that the marks referred to in 23.1 are maintained in a clearly visible condition.
This is a penal provision.
* * * * * *
Appendix Draught marks
1 Scales to be marked fore and aft
A ship must be marked on each side of the bow and of the stern with a draught scale in accordance with this Appendix, denoting the draught, fore and aft respectively, of the ship.
2 Requirements
2.1A draught scale must comprise a series of marks the underside of each of which coincides with the intersection between:
(a) the part of the hull of the ship on which that scale is required, in accordance with this Appendix, to be applied; and
(b) a plane (in this Appendix referred to as a relevant plane) that is one of a series of planes that, at intervals of 2 decimetres, are parallel to the plane in which the designed waterline of the ship lies.
2.2The lowest mark in a draught scale must correspond with the relevant plane that is, at its closest point, the least practicable number of whole intervals of 2 decimetres above the relevant draught mark datum, being:
(a) in the case of a draught scale that is required to be applied to the bow of a ship, the forward cut‑up point of the keel; and
(b) in the case of a draught scale that is required to be applied to the stern of a ship, the lowest point aft of the hull, skeg or solepiece.
2.3 The uppermost mark in a draught scale must be a mark:
(a) in a position that corresponds with a relevant plane that is not less than such distance above the designed waterline of the ship as is equal to 1% of the length of the ship or, where the part of the ship on which that scale is required by this Appendix to be inscribed does not extend to that plane, the highest relevant plane that intersects that part of the ship; or
(b) in a position that corresponds with the maximum trim by the bow or by the stern, as the case requires, that may reasonably be expected in service;
whichever is the higher position.
2.4Subject to 2.5, a mark referred to in 2.1 must comprise an arabic numeral, or arabic numerals, denoting the number of decimetres in the minimum distance between the relevant plane to which the mark relates and the point referred to in 2.2 (a) or (b), as the case requires.
2.5A draught scale must be expressed in terms of metres and decimetres, and shall comprise:
(a) in the case of the uppermost mark in the scale — a numeral, or numerals, denoting the number of complete metres in the distance referred to in 2.4 (in this provision referred to as the relevant draught) followed by the letter 'M' and the number (if any) of decimetres in the relevant draught in excess of that number of complete metres; and
(b) in the case of any other mark in the scale in relation to which the relevant draught consists solely of a number of complete metres — a numeral, or numerals, denoting that number of metres followed by the letter 'M'; and
(c) in any other case — a numeral denoting the number of decimetres in the relevant draught in excess of the maximum number of complete metres in the relevant draught or the number of decimetres in the relevant draught, as the case requires;
being arabic numerals and, where applicable, roman capital letters as indicated in Figure 1.
2.6A numeral or letter referred to in 2.4 or 2.5 must comply with the following requirements:
(a) its height must be 100 millimetres;
(b) the thickness of its strokes must be not less than 20%, and not more than 25%, of that height;
(c) it must:
(i) be permanently marked on the surface of the portion of the ship to which it is applied; or
(ii) form part of the fabric of that portion of the ship and project from the surrounding surface of that portion of the ship;
(d) it must be painted with waterproof paint of a colour that makes a distinct contrast with the colour of the background on which it appears.
3 Position of forward draught marks
3.1Subject to 3.2 and 3.3, a draught scale required to be marked on a side of the bow must be marked at the stem, following the line of the bow from the point referred to in 2.2 (a), as illustrated in Figure 2.
3.2Where the bow incorporates a bulbous projection below the designed waterline, the draught scale referred to in 3.1 must be marked on the ship in a transverse plane perpendicular to the designed waterline of the ship, as far forward as is practicable, as illustrated in Figure 3.
3.3Where the bow is cylindrical in form, the draught scale referred to in 3.1 must be marked on the ship in a plane perpendicular to the designed waterline and the centreline of the ship, in the position illustrated in Figure 4.
4 Position of aft draught marks
4.1A draught scale required to be marked on a side of the stern must be marked on the hull:
(a) in the case of a ship having a stern post — in a transverse plane perpendicular to the designed waterline of the ship, the lower portion of which is on the side of the stern post; or
(b) in the case of a ship not having a stern post — in 2 portions, each of which is in a straight line perpendicular to the designed waterline of the ship, as follows:
(i) an upper portion directly abeam of, and not extending below the point of intersection of the side of the hull with, the rudder stock; and
(ii) a lower portion having as its upper limit a mark that relates to the draught aft of the ship that is indicated by a mark that is not lower than the third to lowest mark in the portion of the scale referred to in (i) that is placed forward of, but as near as practicable to, the rudder, as illustrated in Figure 2; or
(c) where compliance with (a) or (b) is impracticable — in a straight line perpendicular to the designed waterline at the aft‑most point of the ship that is practicable.
4.2Draught marks must be located in the transverse plane of the centre of the rudder stock, where practicable, and may be placed on fixed appendages, such as fixed propeller nozzles, but must not be placed on moveable appendages, such as the rudder or moveable nozzles.
4.3A duplicate scale of draught marks must be placed forward of the rudder stock, in the aftermost line still enabling the marks to be placed on the skeg, to facilitate reading the draught range.
4.4Aft draught marks must be measured from the point referred to in 2.2 (b), as illustrated in Figure 2.
5 Bottom appendages
In the case of a ship fitted with a bottom appendage, extending below the point referred to in 2.2 (a) or (b), the depth to which the appendage extends below that line must be clearly indicated by a notice located in the navigating bridge.
6 Unconventional hulls
Notwithstanding anything in the preceding provisions of this Appendix, where, by reason of the nature of the constructional features of a ship:
(a) there is no part of the ship that is readily identifiable as the bow, or as the stern, of the ship; or
(b) it is otherwise impracticable to mark a scale on a ship in the manner required by those provisions;
that scale must be marked on the ship in such position or in such manner as the Manager, Ship Inspections determines.
7 Existing ships
7.1Draught marks on an existing ship that fail to comply with the requirements of this Appendix due to the marks being applied in accordance with imperial measurements will be deemed to be in compliance provided:
(a) the interval between marks is one foot; and
(b) in other respects, the marks approximate to those requirements.
7.2A draught scale on an existing ship may, notwithstanding 2.4 and 2.5 of this Appendix, be expressed in roman numerals.
8 Longitudinal information
8.1 The position of each draught mark must be recorded in relation to an adjacent or convenient datum (such as the rudder stock centre line), specifying the longitudinal distance of the mark from the datum.
8.2 A copy of the information referred to in clause 8.1 must be furnished to the consultant naval architect preparing the stability data of the ship to which the information relates and to the Manager, Ship Inspections.
Note Knowledge of the longitudinal positions of the draught marks relative to the forward and aft perpendiculars is necessary to carry out trim and stability calculations.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Notes to Marine Orders Part 16, Issue 3
Note 1
Marine Orders Part 16, Issue 3 (in force under the Navigation Act 1912) as shown in this compilation comprises Order No.11 of 2004 amended as indicated in the Tables below.
Table of Instruments
| Number and year | Date of notification in Gazette or registration on FRLI | Date of commencement | Application, saving or transitional provisions |
| Order No. 11 of 2004 | 22 December 2004 | 1 January 2005 | — |
| Order No. 7 of 2008 | 12 June 2008 | 1 July 2008 | — |
| Order No. 7 of 2010 | 1 July 2010 | 1 July 2010 | — |
Table of Amendments
ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted
| Provision affected | How affected |
| 1, heading | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 2: definition of assigning authority, paragraph (b) | am. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 2: definition of Chief Marine Surveyor | rep. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 2: definition of IMO | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 2: definition of Manager, Ship Inspections | ad. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 2: definition of penal provision | rs. Order No. 7 of 2010, rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 2: definition of survey authority | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 2: definition of surveyor | am. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 2: definition of the Load Line Convention | am. Order No. 7 of 2010, rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 2: definition of USL Code, note | ad. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 3.2 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 3.3 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 3.4 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 4.2 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 5 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 6.1.1 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 7A | ad. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 8.1 | am. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 8.2 | am. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 9 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2010, rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 11 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 12 (c) | am. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 13 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 14.2, heading | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 14.2.3, note | ad. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 15.2.1 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 16 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 17.1 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2010 |
| 17.2.1 (a) | am. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 18 | am. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 19.2 | am. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| 20 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| Appendix, clause 6 | am. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
| Appendix, clause 8 | rs. Order No. 7 of 2008 |
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