International Convention on Load Lines

The International Convention on Load Lines (English: International Convention on Load Lines ) is a UN Convention, which lays down the principles of freeboard at merchant ships as well as the attachment of the load line.

Particulars

The roots of the Convention in particular go back to the efforts of Samuel Plimsoll, who fought against the overloading of ships. His work eventually led to the Shipping Act of 1890, which permitted the unloading (and the draft) foreign ships regulated, the British ports left.

Further negotiations led finally in 1930 the first International Convention on Load Lines, which has been ratified by 54 States. The Convention of 1930, primarily due to the finding of sufficient buoyancy of the ship, but also set a minimum stability and a consideration of the loads on the ship's hull.

The valid today Convention was finally adopted on 5 April 1966 and entered into force on 21 July 1968. The Convention of 1966 specified the technical rules by regulations governing the actual freeboard, the seaworthiness at above Coming seawater, the watertight compartments and a determination of the residual stability of the damaged ship.

The Convention is still in force and was later expanded and adapted by supplementary agreements, such as the 1988 Protocol and the 2003 Amendments.