Maritime Glossary
Freeboard
The vertical distance from the waterline to the upper surface of the freeboard deck, measured amidships.
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Full Definition
Freeboard is the safety margin against flooding. Minimum freeboard is determined by the International Load Line Convention (1966/1988) and marked on the hull as the load line (Plimsoll mark). Load line assignments vary by season and trading zone: Summer (S), Winter (W), Tropical (T), Fresh Water (F), and Winter North Atlantic (WNA). Insufficient freeboard means overloading — an unseaworthy condition that is a criminal offence in most jurisdictions.
Domain Tags
vessel measurementssafetyregulation