Stability Booklet
Top: Rules for the Classification of Steel Ships
1 Trim and stability booklet
1.1 Information to be included in the trim and stability booklet
1.1.1 General
A trim and stability booklet is a stability manual, to be approved by the Society, which is to contain
information to enable the Master to operate the ship in compliance with the applicable
requirements contained in the Rules.
The format of the stability booklet and the information included vary depending on the ship type
and operation.
1.1.2 List of information
The following information is to be included in the trim and stability booklet:
•a general description of the ship, including:
◦the ship’s name and the Society classification number
◦the ship type and service notation
◦the class notations
◦the yard, the hull number and the year of delivery
◦the Flag, the port of registry, the international call sign and the IMO number
◦the moulded dimensions
◦the draught corresponding to the assigned summer load line, the draught corresponding to the
assigned summer timber load line and the draught corresponding to the tropical load line, if
applicable
◦the displacement corresponding to the above- mentioned draughts
•instructions on the use of the booklet
•general arrangement and capacity plans indicating the assigned use of compartments and spaces
(cargo, passenger, stores, accommodation, etc.)
•a sketch indicating the position of the draught marks referred to the ship’s perpendiculars
•hydrostatic curves or tables corresponding to the design trim, and, if significant trim angles are
foreseen during the normal operation of the ship, curves or tables corresponding to such range of
trim are to be introduced. A reference relevant to the sea density, in t/m3, is to be included as well
as the draught measure (from keel or underkeel).
•cross curves (or tables) of stability calculated on a free trimming basis, for the ranges of
displacement and trim anticipated in normal operating conditions, with indication of the volumes
which have been considered in the computation of these curves
•tank sounding tables or curves showing capacities, centres of gravity, and free surface data for each
tank
•lightship data from the inclining test, as indicated in Ch 3, Sec 1, [2.2], including lightship
displacement, centre of gravity co-ordinates, place and date of the inclining test, as well as the
Society approval details specified in the inclining test report. It is suggested that a copy of the
approved test report be included.
Where the above-mentioned information is derived from a sister ship, the reference to this sister
ship is to be indicated, and a copy of the approved inclining test report relevant to this sister ship is
to be included.
•standard loading conditions as indicated in [1.2] and examples for developing other acceptable
loading conditions using the information contained in the booklet
•intact stability results (total displacement and its centre of gravity co-ordinates, draughts at
perpendiculars, GM, GM corrected for free surfaces effect, GZ values and curve, criteria as indicated
in Ch 3, Sec 2, [2] and Ch 3, Sec 2, [3] as well as possible additional criteria specified in Part E when
applicable, reporting a comparison between the actual and the required values) are to be available
for each of the above-mentioned operating conditions. The method and assumptions to be followed
in the stability curve calculation are specified in [1.3].
•information on loading restrictions (maximum allowable load on double bottom, maximum specific
gravity allowed in liquid cargo tanks, maximum filling level or percentage in liquid cargo tanks,
maximum KG or minimum GM curve or table which can be used to determine compliance with the
applicable intact and damage stability criteria) when applicable
•information about openings (location, tightness, means of closure), pipes or other progressive
flooding sources
•information concerning the use of any special cross-flooding fittings with descriptions of damage
conditions which may require cross-flooding, when applicable
•any other guidance deemed appropriate for the operation of the ship
•a table of contents and index for each booklet.
1.2 Loading conditions
1.2.1 General
The standard loading conditions to be included in the trim and stability booklet are:
•lightship condition
•ship in ballast in the departure condition, without cargo but with full stores and fuel
•ship in ballast in the arrival condition, without cargo and with 10% stores and fuel remaining.
Further loading cases may be included when deemed necessary or useful.
When a tropical freeboard is to be assigned to the ship, the corresponding loading conditions are
also to be included.
1.2.4 Container ships
In addition to the standard loading conditions specified in [1.2.1], for ships with the service notation
container ship the following loading cases are to be included in the trim and stability booklet:
•ship with the maximum number of containers on board having a homogeneous weight
corresponding to the summer load waterline when loaded with full stores and consumables
•same loading condition as above, but with 10% stores and consumables
•ship with a number of containers having a weight corresponding to the maximum permissible
weight for each container at the summer load waterline when loaded with full stores and
consumables
•same loading condition as above, but with 10% stores and consumables
•lightship condition with full stores and consumables
•lightship condition with 10% stores and consumables.
