Answer
A- It refers to the practice of assigning more than one loadline certificate to a ship, allowing it to operate
temporarily with diff. freeboards depending on the specific condition or operational needs
- Many ports & terminals impose DWT restriction on visiting ships & they ensure that this is not breached by
requiring the marking of a set of loadlines with the summer mark indicating the draught for a Deadweight below the restriction limit. Some ships have several sets of marks, with a Loadline Certificate issued by a class for each set.
- None of these additional sets of Loadline marks may be higher than the set reqd for the minimum freeboard
assigned under the Intrntl LL rules
- The rules only allow one set to be in use at any one time, so that the ship may arrive at a port using 1 set,
but sail using another
Operatnl Requirements while holding LL certfcts
1.Whenever the owner desires to change from 1 assigned freeboard to another, the master shall verify the following –
b.Onle one LL certificate is in use at any given time. Other LL crtfcte(s) are kept in a sealed envelope & kept under the safe custody of the master.
c.Only one set of marks associated with the LL crtftce is use (i.e. actually “painted in” & visible at any given time). Other LL marks are painted out with the same color as it s background.
d.The new summer freeboard on each side shall be physically measured each time & recorded in the “MLLAB” along with other relevant details, duly endorsed by the master.
e.The company is informed to update the office copy of “MLLAB (Multiple LL assigmnmnt buklet)” along with other relevant details, duly endorsed by the master
f.An official entry is made in the ship’s log book about the change in LL marking.
1.During the Annual/Renewal LL surveys, the RO’s Surveyor shall verify/emdorse the ship’s copy of the “MLLAB”
Procedure for assignment of Multiple Loadline
a.The owner shall make a request in writing to IRS i.e. the assigning authority indicating the reqd D.weights or drafts for which the multiple LL are to be assigned
b.The request will be evaluated & if found acceptable, A Memorandum of Freeboard (MOF) will be issued by IRS.
c.The following condtns shall be verified by IRS before issuance of Multiple LL crtftce –
a.LL marks corresponding to the deepest draft of the vessel as well as other assigned drafts are permanently marked on the side shell.
b.The vessel is issued with a “Multiple LL assignment buklet” by the assigng authority.
c.A copy of the buklet shall be retained with the owner/Company as a ‘company copy’ for records.