Draft (Draught)
Draft, or draught, is the vertical distance from the waterline to the keel, read from draft marks at the bow, midships and stern. The more cargo on board, the deeper the draft, so it decides whether a ship can use a channel and berth at a given quay. Basin and channel depths differ by terminal and change with siltation, so check official Pelindo or terminal information. For bulk cargo, a draft survey is used to calculate the cargo weight.
Related terms
- Deadweight Tonnage (DWT)
Deadweight tonnage (DWT) is the total weight a ship can carry at its summer load line, including cargo, fuel, fresh water, stores and crew.
- Mother Vessel
A mother vessel is a large container ship on a main intercontinental service that calls at hub ports and collects boxes brought in by feeder vessels.
- Port of Loading (POL)
The port of loading (POL) is the port where cargo is loaded onto the main ocean vessel named on the B/L, for example Tanjung Priok (IDTPP) or Tanjung Perak (IDSUB).
- Metacentric Height (GM)
Metacentric height (GM) is the distance between a ship's centre of gravity (G) and its metacentre (M), calculated as KM minus KG.
Covered in these guides
Bridge Visibility and Line of Sight: SOLAS V/22, Deck Stack Height and Trim
How to check container ship bridge visibility under SOLAS V/22, how deck stack height and trim affect it, a similar-triangles worked example and the air draft link.
6 min read Vessel stowageShip Trim and Draft: TPC, MTC, LCF and a Worked Example of New Drafts
How to work out forward, aft and mean drafts, trim, TPC, MTC and LCF, with an example of loading off the LCF, hog and sag correction and air draft.
6 min read