1.

4 STATICAL STABILITY
Description
 states that weight is the force of gravity on a mass and
always acts vertically downwards
 states that the total weight of a ship and all its contents can
be considered to act at a point called the center of gravity (G)
 states that the center of buoyancy (B) as being the center of
the underwater volume of the ship
 states that the force of buoyancy always acts vertically
upwards
 explains that the total force of buoyancy can be considered
as a single force acting through B
 states that when the shape of the underwater volume of a
ship changes the position of B also changes
 states that the position of B will change when the draught
changes and when heeling occurs
 labels a diagram of amidships cross-section of an upright
ship to show the weight acting through G and the buoyancy
force acting through B
 states that the buoyancy force is equal to the weight of the
ship
 labels a diagram of a amidships cross-section of a ship
heeled to a small angle to show the weight acting through G
and the buoyancy force acting through B
 describes stability as the ability of the ship to return to an
upright position after being heeled by an external force
 states that the lever GZ as the horizontal distance between
the vertical forces acting through B and G
 states that the forces of weight and buoyancy form a couple
 states that the magnitude of the couple is displacement x
lever x GZ
 on a diagram of a heeled ship, shows:
the forces at B and G
the lever GZ
 states that the length of GZ will be different at different
angles of heel
 states that if the couple displacement x GZ tends to turn the
ship toward the upright, the ship is stable
 states that for a stable ship:
displacement x GZ is called the righting moment
GZ is called the righting lever
Transverse Statical Stability
- is a term used to describe the ability of a ship
to return to the upright when it has been forcibly heeled
by an external force and is momentarily at rest when
floating in still water.
Righting Lever (GZ)
- is defined as the horizontal distance,
measured in meters, between the center of gravity (G)
and the vertical line of action of the buoyancy force
(Bf) acting through the center of buoyancy (B₁)

Righting lever (GZ) increases to some maximum value

and then decreases as the ship progressively heels
further.
see illustration.
• The righting levers for specified angles of heel are
represented on a Curve of Statical Stability
commonly known as a GZ Curve as shown.
 MOMENT OF STATICAL STABILITY (MSS)
Commonly referred to as the righting moment, at
any given angle of heel is found by:
Righting Moment (t-m) = GZ (m) x Displacement (t)
Which results from the buoyancy force (Bf) (being equal
to the ship’s displacement (Wf), acting on the end of the
lever GZ, which pivots about G.
The righting moment at any angle of heel represents the
instantaneous “value” of the ship’s ability to return to the
upright, expressed in tonnes-meters, when the ship is
momentarily at rest
INITIAL TRANSVERSE METACENTER (M)
Is defined as the point of intersection of successive
lines of action of buoyancy force (Bf) when the ship is
in the initial upright condition and subsequently heeled
conditions.
It is assumed to be at a fixed position when the
ship is heeled within small angles only

Consider the ship shown.

When the ship heels beyond small angles the point of
intersection has to move, hence the term initial
Transverse Metacenter.
METACENTRIC HEIGHT (GM)
This is the vertical distance between the ship’s
center of gravity (G) and the initial transverse
metacenter (M)
The GM is very important in determining the initial
stability of the ship at small angles of heel.
If the center of gravity (G) of the ship shown was
higher, the righting lever (GZ) would be smaller and
the ship would be less stable (since the righting
moment would be smaller)
If the center of gravity (G) of the ship shown was
lower, the righting lever (GZ) would be larger and the
ship would be more stable (since the righting moment
would be larger).
Consider the vertical positions of the center of gravity
(G) and the initial transverse metacenter (M) for the
ship shown. M is above G

GM = KM – KG
Where GM is a positive value.
Whenever M is above G the ship will be in stable
condition, in other words, the ship will have positive
stability. It is the aim of the officer in charge of
loading the ship to ensure that this is the case at all
times.
In the normal loaded condition the initial metacentric
height (GM) should not be less than 0.15 m. (Code of
Intact Stability for all types of ships covered by IMO
Instruments (IMO)- Chapter 3 Section 3.1.2.4 )
CALCULATING THE MOMENT OF STATICAL STABILITY
AT SMALL ANGLES OF HEEL

In triangle GZM sine θ = opp/hyp = GZ / GM

Therefore GZ = GM x SIN θ
Having found GZ:
Righting Moment = GZ x Displacement

Note: the above formula for GZ can only be used for

small angles of heel up to 10 degrees.

MSS = GM x SIN θ x Displacement

1. Find the moment of statical stability when a ship of
10,450 tons displacement is heeled 6° if the GM is 0.5m.
A. 546.2 tons-meters
B. 345.7 tons-meters
C. 456.7 tons-meters
D. 541.3 tons-meters

MSS = W X GM X SIN Ф
= 10,450 X 0.5 X SIN 6°
= 546.16 tons- meters
2. When a ship of 10,000 tons displacement is heeled 15°, the righting
lever is 0.2m. KM = 6.8m. Find the KG and the moment of statical
stability.
A. KG = 6.027m; MSS = 2000 tons-meters
B. KG = 5.912m; MSS = 5000 tons-meters
C. KG = 5.021m; MSS = 500 tons-meters
D. KG = 6.843m; MSS = 2500 tons-meters MSS = W X GZ
MSS = W X GM X SIN Ф = 10,000 X 0.2
GM = MSS = 2,000 tons- meter
W X SIN Ф KM = 6.800 M
= 2,000 GM = 0.773 M (-)
10,000 X SIN 15° KG = 6.027 M
=0.773
3. A ship of 11,000 tons displacement has a moment of statical
stability of 500 tons-meters when heeled 5°. Find the initial
metacentric height.
A. 0.522m
B. 0.598m
MSS = W X GM X SIN Ф
C. 0.568m
GM = MSS
D. 0.543m W X SIN Ф
= 500
11,000 X SIN 5°
=0.5215 m