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Chapter 11

Freeboard and Subdivision

11.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter and the two following try to present as compact a summary as
possible of the major statutory rules which govern aspects of merchant ship design.
These rules contain many detailed provisions and condensing these has required
both a simplification of the treatment of some items and the omission of some less
important items.
For 100% accuracy the originals must be used, but most important matters are
covered and calculations based on the abbreviated data given in these chapters
should be accurate enough for most design purposes; it is hoped that the summaries
make easier reading than the detailed statutory rules. In some places guidance
towards desirable design options has been added.

11.2 FREEBOARD

Rules requiring a statutory freeboard apply to all merchant ships of 24 metres
length or more', although in practice the freeboard of most passenger ships is set by
the more severe requirements of the subdivision rules, and the same may now
apply to cargo ships following the introduction of subdivision requirements for
these in part B1 amendment to SOLAS 1974, which is dealt with in Section 3 of
this chapter.
There are no equivalent rules for warships although the standards of seakeeping
and damage survival demanded for these vessels ensure that they have adequate
freeboard.

I Some countries, including the U.K., extend the requirement for a statutory freeboard to
ships less than 24 m in length