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Suggested Citation:"C EXPLANATION OF BASIC STABILITY." National Research Council. 1996. Stemming the Tide: Controlling Introductions of Nonindigenous Species by Ships' Ballast Water. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5294.
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APPENDIX C Explanation of Basic Stability

A ship or any other freely floating body displaces its own weight of the liquid it is in when afloat. This weight (w) acts downward through the center of gravity of the body (G) and is resisted by an upward buoyant force (equal to w), which acts through the center of buoyancy (B) (see Figure C-1). (B) is the geometric center of the submerged volume displaced by the ship. The metacenter (M) is the point through which all vertical forces are said to act.

The actual ''all up weight" of a ship and its contents is equal to the weight of water displaced by the hull; accordingly, this is referred to as its displacement. A vessel's displacement varies over a range of conditions from extreme lightship to a deep, heavy-loaded condition. The displacement alters as cargo or ballast is loaded or discharged or as fuel is consumed.

In stable ship, the centers of buoyancy and gravity strive at all times to remain vertically aligned. When a stable ship is caused to heel by an external force, such as wind, wave, or turning motion (not weight shift), the consequent change in underwater hull shape will result in (B) moving to one side while (G) does not move. The horizontal separation of (B) and (G) so caused is referred to as the righting lever, GZ (see Figure C-1), and the resulting righting moment, (w x GZ), will cause the vessel to oscillate from side to side as it attempts to realign (B) and (G).

The measure of a ship's initial stability, when upright or nearly upright, is indicated by the height of the metacenter (M) above (G), which is referred to as the metacenter height, GM, while the horizontal distance, GZ, more accurately indicates the measure of stability at angles of heel (OB:FO: "Theta") in excess of 5 degrees from the vertical. GZ is referred to as the measured of static stability.

Suggested Citation:"C EXPLANATION OF BASIC STABILITY." National Research Council. 1996. Stemming the Tide: Controlling Introductions of Nonindigenous Species by Ships' Ballast Water. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5294.
×

FIGURE C-1 Righting lever.

FIGURE C-2 Zero GM.

Should the ship's center of gravity (G) coincide with (M) and an external force be applied, the ship will assume an "angle of loll." The ship will maintain the assumed angle until a further force is applied. Should another external force be applied, the ship may assume an angle of loll to the other side or may worsen the existing loll condition if there is no righting lever, GZ, to correct the assumed heel angle. In this condition the ship is said to have zero or no GM (see Figure C-2).

Suggested Citation:"C EXPLANATION OF BASIC STABILITY." National Research Council. 1996. Stemming the Tide: Controlling Introductions of Nonindigenous Species by Ships' Ballast Water. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5294.
×

FIGURE C-3 Reduced GM with slack tanks (free surface effect).

FIGURE C-4 Negative GM.

As shown in Figure C-1, when the vessel is upright, the center of buoyancy, (B), and the center of gravity of the ship, (G), remain in line and the ship is transversely stable, even with slack; that is, even with the ballast tanks partially full. However, if an external force is applied (because of wind, wave action, or the ship turning) and the ship is caused to heel, the center of gravity of the water in the ballast tanks (G1) and (G2) will move to positions (G3) and (G4), resulting

Suggested Citation:"C EXPLANATION OF BASIC STABILITY." National Research Council. 1996. Stemming the Tide: Controlling Introductions of Nonindigenous Species by Ships' Ballast Water. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5294.
×

in the center of gravity of the ship moving from (G) to (G5) (see Figure C-3). This movement reduces the original righting lever, GZ, and the resultant height of the ship's GM. The ship therefore becomes less transversely stable.

Should the ship, for whatever reason, continue to heel, the position of (G5) will continue to move due to the movement of the center of gravity of the affected ballast tanks, thereby reducing the vessel's GM and the resulting GZ. If the deck edge becomes immersed, the center of buoyancy (B) will move inboard, the effect of which will again reduce GM and the resultant righting moment, GZ. The effect of this change will make the vessel become very "tender," and it will "flop" from side to side.

If more tanks are made slack or there is a cargo shift due to the excessive angle of heel, it is possible for (B) and (G5) to reverse positions. Should this occur, GZ will be converted from a righting lever into a coupled turning force, which could cause the ship to capsize. This condition is known as negative GM (see Figure C-4).

Suggested Citation:"C EXPLANATION OF BASIC STABILITY." National Research Council. 1996. Stemming the Tide: Controlling Introductions of Nonindigenous Species by Ships' Ballast Water. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5294.
×
Page 102
Suggested Citation:"C EXPLANATION OF BASIC STABILITY." National Research Council. 1996. Stemming the Tide: Controlling Introductions of Nonindigenous Species by Ships' Ballast Water. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5294.
×
Page 103
Suggested Citation:"C EXPLANATION OF BASIC STABILITY." National Research Council. 1996. Stemming the Tide: Controlling Introductions of Nonindigenous Species by Ships' Ballast Water. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5294.
×
Page 104
Suggested Citation:"C EXPLANATION OF BASIC STABILITY." National Research Council. 1996. Stemming the Tide: Controlling Introductions of Nonindigenous Species by Ships' Ballast Water. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5294.
×
Page 105
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The European zebra mussel in the Great Lakes, a toxic Japanese dinoflagellate transferred to Australia—such biologically and economically harmful stowaways have made it imperative to achieve better management of ballast water in ocean-going vessels.

Stemming the Tide examines the introduction of non-indigenous species through ballast water discharge. Ballast is any solid or liquid that is taken aboard ship to achieve more controlled and safer operation. This expert volume:

  • Assesses current national and international approaches to the problem and makes recommendations for U.S. government agencies, the U.S. maritime industry, and the member states of the International Maritime Organization.
  • Appraises technologies for controlling the transfer of organisms—biocides, filtration, heat treatment, and others—with a view toward developing the most promising methods for shipboard demonstration.
  • Evaluates methods for monitoring the effectiveness of ballast water management in removing unwanted organisms.

The book addresses the constraints inherent in ballast water management, notably shipboard ballast treatment and monitoring. Also, the committee outlines efforts to set an acceptable level of risk for species introduction using the techniques of risk analysis.

Stemming the Tide will be important to all stakeholders in the issue of unwanted species introduction through ballast discharge: policymakers, port authorities, shippers, ship operators, suppliers to the maritime industry, marine biologists, marine engineers, and environmentalists.

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