Load Line Mark
The Load Line Mark shall consist of a ring 300 millimetres in outside diameter and 25 millimetres wide which is intersected by a horizontal line 450 millimetres in length and 25 millimetres in breadth, the upper edge of which passes through the centre of the ring. The centre of the ring shall be placed amidships and at a distance equal to the assigned summer freeboard measured vertically below the upper edge of the deck line.
The Load line rules which were brought in were due to the fact that the ships were being loaded in such a way that the ships were foundering.
Thus the important fact to remember is that it was the freeboard that was being restricted, from very low to a safe figure.
Depending on this freeboard the load line circle was marked as well as the other marks were made for different zones and densities.
Thus the chapter on CONDITIONS OF ASSIGNMENT OF FREEBOARD is very important as it determines as to how much would be the distance between the deck line and the load line circle.
Once this is determined the load line marks are painted, keeping the above in reference.
The calculations give rise to the assigned summer freeboard.