Criteria for Intact Stability
Intact stability refers to the ship’s ability to remain stable and upright under
various conditions without damage to its hull or systems. The IMO sets out
specific criteria for intact stability in the International Code on Intact
Stability (IS Code), which outlines standards for vessels worldwide.
Key Stability Criteria:
1. Metacentric Height (GM):
o GM must be positive for a vessel to maintain stability. It
represents the vertical distance between the center of gravity
(G) and the metacenter (M).
o Adequate GM is essential for the ship to resist heeling moments
caused by wind, waves, or cargo shifts.
2. Righting Lever Curve (GZ Curve):
o The area under the GZ curve measures the energy available to
restore the vessel to its upright position after heeling.
Requirements include:
▪ A minimum area under the curve up to a specific angle of
heel.
▪ Maximum GZ value occurs at or beyond a prescribed heel
angle.
3. Angle of Heel:
o Specific heel angles are outlined to assess operational safety.
o The maximum permissible angle for stability varies depending on
the ship's type and size.
4. Dynamic Stability:
o The total energy needed to restore a vessel from heeling is
calculated by the area under the righting lever curve.
5. Weather Criteria:
o Weather conditions, including wind and waves, are factored in to
evaluate stability.
Transverse Stability vs. Longitudinal Stability
● Transverse Stability: This concerns the ship’s resistance to rolling
motions (side-to-side movements). A strong transverse stability
ensures the ship resists capsizing under lateral forces.
● Longitudinal Stability: This focuses on pitching motions
(forward-to-backward movements), ensuring the ship's trim remains
balanced.
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For port approaches and maneuvering, transverse stability is typically more
critical.
Comparing Computed GM and List Values Against IMO Standards
To evaluate a vessel’s stability against IMO standards, follow these steps:
1. Calculate the GM:
o Determine the GM value using ship measurements: $$ GM = KM
- KG $$
▪ KM = Distance from keel to the metacenter.
▪ KG = Distance from keel to the center of gravity.
o Compare the computed GM against the minimum IMO
requirements for the vessel's type and size.
2. Assess List Values:
o List is caused by uneven weight distribution, leading to a tilt in
the vessel.
o Calculate the list angle using the formula: $$ \text{tan(list
angle)} = \frac{\text{Transverse weight
moment}}{\text{Displacement} \times GM} $$
o Ensure the list does not exceed IMO-prescribed thresholds.
3. Analyze the GZ Curve:
o Plot the GZ curve based on loading conditions.
o Check compliance with IMO criteria for minimum areas under the
curve and righting moments.
4. Cross-Check IMO Stability Booklet:
o Verify your calculations with IMO documentation specific to your
vessel.
o Ensure that the ship’s stability meets operational and weather
criteria.
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Stability analysis is essential to ensure the safety of the vessel, its crew, and
cargo. Would you like further clarification on any of these points or a
practical example to deepen your understanding?
Example Scenario
Ship Specifications:
● Displacement: 10,000 metric tons
● KG (Keel to Center of Gravity): 8.0 meters
● KM (Keel to Metacenter): 10.5 meters
● Transverse Weight Moment (causing list): 30,000 metric
ton-meters
Step 1: Calculate GM (Metacentric Height)
1. Formula: GM = KM - KG
2. Substitute values: GM = 10.5 m - 8.0 m
3. Result: GM = 2.5 m
Step 2: Calculate List Angle
1. Formula: tan(list angle) = Transverse Weight Moment /
(Displacement × GM)
2. Substitute values: tan(list angle) = 30,000 / (10,000 × 2.5)
3. Simplify: tan(list angle) = 0.012
4. Convert to degrees: List Angle = arctan(0.012) ≈ 0.69°
Step 3: Verify Against GZ Curve and IMO Requirements
1. GZ Curve Compliance:
o Plot the righting lever curve based on loading conditions.
o Ensure compliance with IMO criteria, such as a minimum area
under the GZ curve up to 30°, and that the maximum GZ occurs
at a heel angle of 25-30°.
2. IMO Standards Check:
o Confirm GM exceeds the required minimum value for this ship
type.
o Verify list angle and transverse stability comply with prescribed
limits.
By following these calculations and checks, we verify that the ship meets
IMO stability criteria for transverse stability and list. Adjustments (such as
repositioning cargo) may be required if stability falls below acceptable levels.
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Let’s analyze the computed GM and list values from the earlier
example to determine if they meet intact stability requirements.
Computed Values Recap:
● GM (Metacentric Height): 2.5 m
● List Angle: Approximately 0.69°
Analysis Against IMO Standards:
GM (Metacentric Height):
● A positive GM value is crucial for stability. In this case, the computed
GM is 2.5 m, which suggests the ship has good transverse stability.
● IMO intact stability standards generally require the GM to exceed a
minimum value depending on the ship type, size, and loading
conditions. For most vessels, a GM value above 1.0 m is typically
acceptable. Result: The computed GM of 2.5 m meets IMO stability
criteria and provides a safe margin.
List Angle:
● The computed list angle is approximately 0.69°, which is minimal and
well within IMO stability requirements.
● Excessive list angles, such as those exceeding 5°, could compromise
operational safety and require adjustments (e.g., redistributing cargo).
Result: The computed list angle of 0.69° meets IMO standards and
indicates the ship is in a stable state.
Conclusion:
Based on the computed values, the ship complies with IMO intact stability
requirements for GM and list. Both values fall within safe and acceptable
limits, ensuring the ship's transverse stability during operations.
The IMO (International Maritime Organization) sets out requirements for
intact stability in the International Code on Intact Stability (IS Code) to
ensure the safety of ships under various operating conditions. Here are some
relevant stability requirements related to GM (metacentric height) and list:
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IMO Stability Requirements:
1. Metacentric Height (GM):
o The GM value must be positive to ensure the vessel remains
stable under all conditions.
o A sufficient GM is needed to provide adequate righting moments
and prevent excessive rolling.
o The exact minimum GM value varies depending on the ship's
type, size, and loading condition, but IMO guidelines typically
require that GM exceeds a certain threshold (e.g., at least 1.0
m for some general-purpose cargo ships).
2. List:
o The ship's list angle should not exceed safe operational limits,
which vary by vessel type.
o IMO standards ensure that any list caused by uneven loading,
wind pressure, or other external forces is minimized, typically to
less than 5 degrees.
o Excessive list angles can compromise stability and lead to cargo
shifts, flooding risks, or loss of propulsion efficiency.
3. Righting Lever (GZ Curve):
o The GZ curve must meet the following criteria:
▪ The area under the curve up to a heel angle of 30° must
not be less than 0.055 meter-radians.
▪ The area up to a heel angle of 40° (or the angle of
flooding, whichever is lower) must not be less than 0.09
meter-radians.
▪ The maximum GZ must occur at a heel angle of at least
25°, and the GZ value at this angle should exceed a
specific minimum.
4. Angle of Maximum Heel:
o Ships must not heel excessively in response to external forces,
such as wind pressure.
o The maximum heel angle under combined wind and wave forces
should not exceed 15°.
5. Dynamic Stability:
o The total restoring energy (represented by the area under the
GZ curve) must be sufficient to counteract heeling forces caused
by wind, waves, or loading.
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Important Notes:
● These requirements ensure the ship maintains stability in both calm
and adverse conditions.
● Compliance is verified during the ship's design phase and through
operational checks, such as loading condition evaluations.
● The exact standards may vary depending on specific IMO regulations
for particular vessel types (e.g., tankers, passenger ships, cargo
vessels).
