Calculating the trim of the vessel

Trim of the vessel is simply calculated in following manner.

1. Find the BG
Find the horizontal distance between center of Gravity and center of Buoyancy.

For reference from Amidship:

BG = (LCG) – (LCB)
For reference from Aft Perpendicular:
BG = (LCB) – (LCG)
If BG is positive, the vessel is trimmed by the stern, and if negative, the vessel trimmed
by the head. When BG is zero, where the two opposite forces coincide in one vertical line, the
vessel is said to be on Even Keel.

2. Solve for the TRIM

When value of BG is obtained, TRIM can be calculated using the formula.
TRIM = BG x Displacement . . . in meters
MCTC x 100
Where: BG is the horizontal distance of center of G and center of B.
Displacement is the total weight of the ship itself.
MCTC is the moment to change trim by 1 cm.

When the center of Buoyancy, 'B' is forward of the cneter of gravity 'G', the vessel is trim by
the stern and contrary, when center of gravity 'G' is forward of center of buoyancy 'B', the
vessel is trim by the head.

The value of the center buoyancy 'B' is obtained from the hydrostatic table in the loading
manual corresponding to the displacement or true mean draft at that particularl time, while the
cneter of gravity 'G' depends on wights distribution within the ship. Therefore, weights
distribution of caargo in hold or liquids in tanks can be worked out to achieve a desired trim on
completion. On the other hand, weights already on board may be shifted or transferred to
achieve a desired trim.

Loading, discharging and shifting of wights are the different options to bring the ship's trim at
intended result. It must be understood that ship trims at her tipping center or center of
floatation. When the tipping cneter is not at amidship, the cahnge of draft from fore and aft
ends are not equal. The calculations for change in draft forward and aft are explained in the
next subject.
Exercise 10 – Finding trim of the ship
Finding the trim of the ship is calculated after having obtained the total longitudinal moments
of all weights on board, constant and lightship at certain condition of loading. Below is a
sample ship's condition of MV “Philship I” and explains how trim is calculated

Ship condition no.2 MV “Philship I” - Departure New Orleans

ITEM WEIGHT KG Vert. LCG Long. F.S Moment

(MT) (M) Moment (m) Moment (t-m)
(t-m) (t-m)
Lightship 10815 11.29 122101.4
Constant 266 12.7 3378.2

11

NO.1 C. HOLD 7934 11.19 88781.5

NO.2 C. HOLD 8670 10.94 94849.8
NO.3 C. HOLD 8691 10.94 95079.5
NO.4 C. HOLD 8201 11.04 90539
NO.5 C. HOLD 8690 10.94 95068
NO.6 C. HOLD 8687 10.94 95035.6
NO.7 C. HOLD 7790 11.35 88416.5
SUBTOTAL (1) 58663 647770

NO.1 F.O.T (C) 0 0.85 0

NO.2 F.O.T (C) 350 0.85 297
5
NO.3 F.O.T (C) 0 0.85 0
NO.4 F.O.T (C) 0 0.85 0
NO.5 F.O.T (C) 0 0.85 0
SUBTOTAL (2) 350 297.5

NO.1 D.O.T (S) 30 0.85 25.5

NO.2 D.O.T (S) 0 0.86 0
SUBTOTAL (3) 30 25.5

F.W.T (P) 75 17.74 1330.5

DR. W. TK (S) 75 17.74 1330.5
SUBTOTAL (4) 150 2661

FORE PEAK TK 588.8 7.12 4192.3

 NO.1 WBT (P)
NO.1 WBT (S) 0 6.59 0
NO.2/3 WBT (P) 0 6.59 607.2
NO.2/3 WBT (S) 80 7.59 0
NO.4 WBT (P) 0 7.59 0
NO.4 WBT (S) 0 8.81 0
NO.5/6 WBT (P) 0 8.8 0
NO.5/6 WBT (S) 0 8.85 708
NO.7 WBT (P) 80 8.85 0
NO.7 WBT (S) 0 9.74 0
AFTER PEAK TK 0 10.48 0
SUBTOTAL (5) 748.8 13.02 5521.7
NO.4 HOLD BW 0 0
NO.2 HOLD BW 0 11.04 0
SUBTOTAL (6) 0 7.07 0
GRAND TOTAL 71022.8 781741.7.0 -287561.7 26660

1. Obtain the corresponding true mean draft for displacement

a. Get the nearest less tabulated displacement and take the equivalent draft
b. Obtain the corresponding TPC at tabulated displacement
c. Get the difference of actual displacement and tabulated displacement take
d. Divide the difference by TPC, then divide by 100 to get the draft correction
e. Add the correction to tabulated draft to obtain Equivalent draft.

Get the nearest less tabulated displacement = 71000.71 = 11.680 m, TPC = 65.74
Difference 71,022.8 – 71,000.07 = 22.73 / TPC / 100 + 0.003 m
= 11.683 m
2. Find the longitudinal center of Gravity
Sum up the total longitudinal moment after having multiplied each weight by corresponding
longitudinal center of gravity (LCG) from Amidship. Then solve for the LCG per below formula.

Longitudinal center of gravity (LCG) = Total Longitudinal Moment

Displacement

= 287,561.7 = - 4.049 m
71,022.8
3. Obtain the hydrostatic particulars, LCB and MCTC
a. Longitudinal center of buoyancy (LCB) = -4.18 m
b. Moment to change trim by 1 cm (MCTC) = 1008.20 t-m

4. Solve for BG (Trimming lever)

Find the horizontal distance of G and B (BG)
BG = (LCG) – (LCG) - (-4.049) – (4.018) = 0.131 m
5. Solve for the trim
Solve for the TRIM

TRIM = BG x Displacement
MCTC x 100
= 0.131 x 71,022.8 = (+) 0.092 m by the stern
Positive (+) result means ship is trim by the stern and negative (-) result means ship is trim by
the head. Zero trim is even keel condition where BG is zero.
Change of Trim

The trim of the ship changes due to following operations onboard.

1. Loading of weights into the ship

2. Discharging of weights from within the ship
3. Shifting of weights within the ship
4. Change in the water density the ship floats
When a weight is loaded on a ship directly over the center of Flotation 'F', the ship sinks
bodily. Similarly, when a weight is discharged directly from the center of flotation, ship rises
bodily. However, when a weight is loaded forward or abaft the center of flotation, the ship
trims toward the weight loaded or away from the weight disc. And when wight within the ship
shifted forward, the ship trims by the head and shifting towards astern, the ship trims by the
stern.

Change of trim (C/T) is the amount in centimeters the trim of the vessel changes when weight
is loaded, discharged or shifted into the vessel. The value is equal to the trimming moment
divided by the moment to change trim by one centimeter (MCTC). This simple formula has
enormous applications in the longitudinal stability of the vessel.

Change of Trim = Weight x Distance . . . in meters

MCTC x 100

Where: Weight is the mass involved (loaded / discharged / shifted

Distance (in loading or discharging) is the distance from the center of flotation of
weight loaded or discharged

MCTC is the moment to change trim by 1 cm at that particular draft and density of
water.

For Amidship reference:

Distance = LCG – LCF

For Amidship Perpendicular reference:

Distance = LCF – LCG

To obtain the Distance of the center of gravity of a compartment from the center of flotation,
simply apply the formula below:

In shifting, 'Distance' of the weight shifted is from its original position to its new position.
Shifting weights forward produce a negative trimming moment while shifting weights aft
produce a positive trimming moment. Combination of shifting both forward and aft, resultant
trimming moment is the algebraic sum of moments.

Distance (d) = fwd LCG + aft LCG

TRIMMING MOMENT is the product of weight multiplied by the distance from the center of
flotation to the center of gravity of the wight loaded or discharged or when shifting, the
distance the weight is shifted.

TRIMMING MOMENT = weight x distance

When an officer wants the trim of the vessel to achieve a desired trim by loading, discharging
and shifting weights or a combination of them, the desired change of trim of the ship can be
so that the resultant trimming moment effect is towards the desired trim of the vessel on
completion of operations.

Loading and discharging weights

When loading weights on board, the trim changes according to the location the weight is
loaded. Weights that are loaded forward of the center of flotation, trims the vessel by the head
while weights loaded abaft the center of flotation trims her by the stern. The distance is
measured from the center of flotation to the position of center of gravity the weights loaded.
Similarity, when weight is discharged from the ship, the trim changes according to the location
of the weight being discharged, but the effect is opposite to loading. Weights discharged are
prefixed with minus sign to show it is being taken out from the ship.

In figure 8, let W be the weight loaded aft of the ship, 'd' is the distance of the weight loaded
from the center of flotation, 'F' and +LCF is the distance of the weight loaded aft of amidship.
LCF is the distance of center of flotation aft of amidship being positive.

Exercise 11 – Finding final draft after loading weights

MV “Philship I” draws fwd 12.70m and 12.80m aft in saltwater and is to take bunkers and
ballast water at bunkering port.

Following are to be loaded:

a. Loaded fuel 470 mt in no.2 FOT (c) with LCG = -6.08m forward of amidship
b. Loaded fuel 460 mt in no.3 FOT (c) with LCG = 19.26m abaft of amid ship
c. Loaded fuel 450 mt in no.4 FOT (c) with LCG = 44.64m abaft of amid shipd.
d. Total weights loaded 1380 mt

Find the change of trim after loading all the weights and final drafts fore and aft.

Solution:

(1) Find the average true mean drafts

Find the average true mean draft between initial condition and final condition after the
resultant weight is loaded or discharged. This will give an accurate mean draft where
hydrostatic particulars are obtained for calculation.

a. mean draft = (dwfd + dAft) = 12.70 + 12.80 = 12.75m, LCF = 3.16

2 2

b. Correction = trim x LCF = (0.10 x 3.16) = 0.001

c. Initial TMD = 12.75 + 0.001 = m, TPC = 66.49 t
d. B. Sinkage = Total weight = 1380 = 0.208
TPC x 100 6649
e. Final TMD = Initial TMD + Bodily Sinkage
f. Ave. TMD = Initial TMD + Final TMD
2
= 12.751 + 12.959 = 12.855
2
Average true mean draft is obtained to get the accurate value for hydrostatic data from initial
condition before loading or discharging until complete all weights are loaded or discharged.
The average true mean draft value should give a more accurate estimate of hydrostatic date
needed in calculation.

2. Obtain the hydrostatic particulars corresponding to average true mean draft

Basis the average mean draft, obtain from hydrostatic table the TPC, MCTC and center
of flotation (LCF).

(1) TPC = 66.55 t

(2) MCTC = 1044.81 t-m
(3) MF = 3.24 m

When the density of water the ship floats is other than saltwater, obtain the corresponding
value of TPC and MCTC corresponding to the density as discussed in Lesson I, determination
of Hydrostatic Particulars at constant draft.

3. Find the distance of each tanks from center of flotation

Solve for the distances of each tank from the center of flotation (CF)
Distance = (LCG) – (LCF)
a) No. 2 FOT (C) = (-0.68) – (3.24) = -9.32 m
b) No. 3 FOT (C) = (19.26) – (3.24) = 16.02 m
c) No. 2 FOT (C) = (44.64) – (3.24) = 41.40 m
4. Solve for the total change of trim
Calculate the trimming moment of each weight loaded.
Tank Weght