EFFECTS OF LOOSE WATER
When a tank or a compartment in a ship is partially
full of liquid that is free to move as the ship heels, the
surface of the liquid tends to remain level. The surface
of the free liquid is referred to as FREE SURFACE.
The tendency of the liquid to remain level as the ship
heels is referred to as FREE SURFACE EFFECT. The
term LOOSE WATER is used to describe liquid that has
a free surface; it is NOT used to describe water or other
liquid that completely fills a tank or compartment and
thus has no free surface.