INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONLOAD LINES , 1966 (LL660

Introduction Overloading is often the cause of maritime casualties (accident) - Cargo shipLL 1930, convention adopted, which laid down minimum freeboard, or maximum draught up to which a ship is permitted to be loaded (1966 change by IMO)LL66 prescribes minimum freeboards to be assigned to tankers, other ships and cargo ships carrying timber deck cargoes; assignments, such as water tight door and; zones, areas and seasonal periods tropical, summer, winter and north Atlantic winter freeboards

Application of rulesEngaged to all international voyages except;Warships Ships solely engaged in fishingPleasure yachts not engaged in tradeNew ships of less than 24m in lengthExisting ships of less than 150 tons grossThe ships to which the convention applied shall not proceed to sea on an international voyage unless it has been surveyed, marked and provided with an international load line certificate (1966) or an international load line exemption certificate

Initial and periodical surveys and inspectionsSurvey which includes a complete inspection of structure and equipment shall be conducted before the ship is put on service.A periodical survey of less than 5 years structure, equipment, arrangements, material and scantling comply with requirements

Cont-A periodical inspection within 3 months after certification unauthorized alterations have not been made to hull or superstructures and fittings and appliances for the protection of openings, guardrails, freeing ports and means of access to crews quarters are inspected to ensure their effective conditionAll periodic inspection should be endorsed on the international load line certificate

Issue of the International Load Line certificate (ILLC)Every ship that has been surveyed and marked in accordance to the convention shall be issued with and International Load Line certificate.A period does not exceed 5 yearsExempted International Load Line exempted certificate The ILLC shall not be delivered to a ship until the surveyor has certified that the marks are correctly and permanently indicated on the ship side

Cancellation of the ILLCMaterial alterations have taken place in the hull or superstructure which would increase the assigned freeboardFittings and appliances for protection of openings, guardrails freeing ports and means of access to crews quarters are not maintainedPeriodic inspections have not been endorsed on the ILLCStructure strength of the ship is reduced causing the ship to be unsafe.

INTERNATIONAL LOAD LINE CERTIFICATE (1966)

Port state controlUnder the LL66 convention, authorized officers of the ports can exercise control by verifying that the valid ILLC is carried by the ship.They can also inspect to ensure that the ship is not loaded beyond the allowable limits.They will also ensure that the position of the load line corresponds with the certificate and that no material alterations have been done

TECHNICAL ASPECTS AND TERMSFreeboardFreeboard deckSuperstructureDeck lineLoad line mark

Freeboard The freeboard assigned is the distance measured vertically downwards amidships from the upper edge of the deck line to the upper edge of the related load line

Freeboard deckNormally the uppermost complete deck expose to the weather and sea, which has permanent means of closing all openings in the weather part there of and below which all openings in the sides of the ship are fitted with permanent means of water tight closing

Superstructure Decked structure on the freeboard deck, extending from side to side of the ship or with the side plating not being inboard of the shell plating more than 4% of the breadth.A raised Quarterdeck is regarded as a superstructure

Deck lineA horizontal line 300mm (12 in) in length and 25mm (1 in) in breadth.It shall be marked amidships on each side of the ship, and its upper edge shall normally pass through the point where the continuation outwards of the upper surface of the freeboard deck intersects the outer surface of the shell

DECK LINE

Load line markShall consist of a ring 300 mm (12 in)in outer diameter and 25 mm (1 in)wide which is intersected by a horizontal line 450 mm (8 in)in length and 25 mm (1 in)in breadth, the upper edge of which passes through the centre of the ring.The centre of the ring shall be placed amidships and at a distance equal to the assigned summer freeboard measured vertically below the upper edge of the deck line

Lines to be usedThe lines which indicate the load line assigned in accordance with these Regulations shall be horizontal lines 230 mm (9 in) in length and 25 mm (1 in) in breadth which extend forward of unless expressly provided otherwise, and right angles to, a vertical line 25 mm in breadth marked at a distance 540 mm (21 in) forward of the centre of the ring

TF

Summer load line, which shall extend forward of the said vertical line, and shall correspond horizontally with the line passing through the centre of the ring of the load line mark, and shall be marked S; Winter load line, which shall extend forward of the vertical line, and be marked W; Winter North Atlantic load line, which shall extend forward of the vertical line, and be marked WNA;Tropical load line, which shall extend forward of the vertical line, and be marked T; Fresh Water load line, which shall extend abaft the vertical line, and be marked F; Tropical Fresh Water load line, which shall extend abaft the vertical line and be marked TF.

Summer Timber load line, which shall extend abaft the said vertical line and be marked LS; Winter Timber load line, which shall extend abaft the vertical line and be marked LW;Winter North Atlantic Timber load line, which shall extend abaft the vertical line and be marked LWNA;Tropical Timber load line, which shall extend abaft of the vertical line and be marked LT;Fresh Water Timber load line, which shall extend forward of the vertical line and be marked LF; Tropical Fresh Water Timber load line, which shall extend forward of the vertical line and be marked LTF.

Summer load line shall consist of the line passing through the centre of the ring of the load line mark; Winter North Atlantic load line and Fresh Water load line only shall be marked on the ship

Details of markingThe ring, lines and letters shall be painted in white or yellow on a dark ground or in black on a light ground.They shall also permanently marked on the sides of the ships to the satisfaction of administration.The marks shall be plainly visible and if necessary, special arrangements shall be made for this purpose