6 Mistakes Master and ship staff must avoid on ships with dual load lines

It is not very uncommon to have more than one load-line for the vessel.

There are many reasons why shipowners choose to have more than one load-lines on their ships.

For example at some ports, the port dues are based upon the deadweight. And if the ship has not loaded to the maximum capacity the shipowner would want to reduce their port dues.

Then at some ports, there is a restriction on the maximum deadweight of the ship.

Having more than one loadline gives the option to the owners to reduce or increase the deadweight according to their requirements.

However, there is a number of things Masters and ship staff need to be aware of while sailing on ships with more than one load-lines.

Masters and ship staff are encouraged to check these points to be very sure that their ship is not detained by port state controls or is issued Condition of class during the annual load line survey.

1) Both the load line certificates kept in the certificate folder

It is a requirement by all the flag states, vetting companies, and the classification societies to display only one load line certificate that is in use.

The other one MUST be kept in a sealed envelop in the master’s locker or other safe custody.

2) The painted load-line on ship side does not correspond to the load line certificate in the certificate folder

This situation can arise because of any of these two facts.

The load line marks on the ship side were not changed during the last documented change of loadline and just the load line certificates were replaced.

Or the load line marks on the ship side were changed but the master forgot to replace the load line certificate.

Whatever the reason, the deficiency has the potential of having the ship detained by the port state control.

3) The Loadline marks on starboard side do not correspond to the load line marks on the port side

This might look silly but there have been detentions by many port state controls due to this deficiency.

The most common reason for this deficiency is not because only one side of load line marks was painted but because on one side, the old marks were removed and then mistakenly the same have been painted again.

4) No entry is made in the official logbook for the change in load-lines

All flag states & classification societies require that whenever the load-lines are changed, Masters must make an appropriate entry in the official logbook.

5) The second load line certificate (kept in the locker) is not stamped for annual class endorsements

It is very important that all the load line certificates are stamped for annual surveys.

During the annual class survey, it is quite possible that other than the load line certificate in use are not stamped, as these are not in the certificate folder.

6) Wrong load line certificate is displayed in the accommodation

A small mistake but can be pointed out by Port State control inspectors.

In ports where PSC inspector tends to make big issues of smaller things, this issue can give rise to the unfavourable situation with PSC inspectors.

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Capt Rajeev Jassal

About Capt Rajeev Jassal

Capt. Rajeev Jassal has sailed for over 24 years mainly on crude oil, product and chemical tankers. He holds MBA in shipping & Logistics degree from London. He has done extensive research on quantitatively measuring Safety culture onboard and safety climate ashore which he believes is the most important element for safer shipping.

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25 Comments

avinash
avinash
8 years before

sir , thank you for the information. could you explain the reasons for ship owners choose to have more than one load line.

Rajeev Jassal
Rajeev Jassal
8 years before

There could be many reasons. For example at some ports, the port dues are based upon the deadweight. And at some ports, there is restriction on maximum deadweight of the ship. Having more than one ladling give the option to the owners to reduce of increase the deadweight according to their requirement. On Chemical tankers that can also carry oil cargoes would need to have inert gas when deadweight is over 20000. When loading oil cargo on these ships owners would change the loadline to make the deadweight less than 20000 (usually 19999) and this would not require to have Inert gas.

abc
abc
6 years before

20k is revised now, kindly confirm

Vipul
Vipul
7 years before

Thanks for sharing this

Rajeev Jassal
Rajeev Jassal
7 years before

Thanks for reading Vipul..

josh
josh
7 years before

Good day sir. Can you explain the process of redeclaring or changing registration from one load line to the other. Thanks.

Rajeev Jassal
Rajeev Jassal
7 years before

You can find this information by <a href="https://www.myseatime.com/discussion/what-is-the-procedure-to-change-a-load-line-in-case-ship-has-dual-or-more-than-two-load-lines" rel="nofollow">clicking here</a>..

PJ
PJ
7 years before

You really do a tremendous job with your articles. Keep up the great work!

Rajeev Jassal
Rajeev Jassal
7 years before

Thanks PJ..

Yuliya
Yuliya
7 years before

Dear Rajeev Jassal, i'm very grateful for sharing your materials, which are very helpful when study GAFTA module 4 (Chartering). Thank you a lot. Definately will recommend to subscribe for your articles.

Rajeev Jassal
Rajeev Jassal
7 years before

Glad that I could be of some help Yuliya..

Sunny
Sunny
7 years before

Is it possible to change loadline under Panama Flag on laden passage to discharge port on arrival disport. Any risk involved in it.

Rajeev Jassal
Rajeev Jassal
7 years before

If the new and old load lines are not already submerged, it can be changed during laden passage too. As the present load line marks need to be painted over and new load line marks need to be highlighted on the ship sides, these load lines need to be above water.

RAKESH RANA
RAKESH RANA
7 years before

Thank you sir for the wonderful blog, could you kindly explain the difference between port and starboard side load line markings.

Rajeev Jassal
Rajeev Jassal
7 years before

Port side load line marking means the load line marking on the port side of the ship.

dan
dan
7 years before

If ship loads its cargo in the tropical seasonal zone and discharges in the summer zone which load line need to use in the loading port?

Bhanmatie ramcharan
Bhanmatie ramcharan
6 years before

I am amazed reading about sea Captains but I wonder what type of clothes a captain sleep with I would love to know I am curious..

daho kamel
daho kamel
5 years before

bonjour ,je voudrais savoir comment calculer le draft d'un metanier et un petrolier

Captain Subrata Kumar Bose
Captain Subrata Kumar Bose
5 years before

Why are dual load lines required ?

Awadhesh Singh
Awadhesh Singh
5 years before

Thank you sir very beneficial articles coming out from your end

AMAR
AMAR
4 years before

nice article ...want you to write on type A ships type B ships

Atik Khan
Atik Khan
3 years before

Thank you sir for such an easy explanation. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Please write about magnetic & gyro compass.

Osama
Osama
3 years before

Plesse master can put the loadlines s&w&....... front of circle or behind what's rule

Johnrey C. Rom
Johnrey C. Rom
3 years before

Sir can you please explain to me how to know the amount of cargo to be loaded if the next port has draft restrictions and with different density from the last port of call?

Dmytro
Dmytro
2 years before

Why fwa is changed when changing load line from one to another?

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