[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR45.3]

[Page 73-74]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 45_GREAT LAKES LOAD LINES--Table of Contents
 
                            Subpart A_General
 
Sec. 45.3  Definitions.

    As used in this part:
    (a) Length (L) means 96 percent of the total length on a waterline 
at 85 percent of the least moulded depth measured from the top of the 
keel or the length from the foreside of the stem to the axis of the 
rudder stock on that waterline, if that is greater. In ships designed 
with a rake of keel the waterline on which this length is measured must 
be parallel to the designed waterline.
    (b) Perpendiculars means the forward and after perpendiculars at the 
forward and after ends of the length (L). The forward perpendicular 
coincides with the foreside of the stem on the waterline on which the 
length is measured.
    (c) Amidships means the middle of the length (L).
    (d) Breadth unless expressly provided otherwise, means the maximum 
breadth of the ship, measured amidships to the moulded line of the frame 
in a ship with a metal shell and to the outer surface of the hull in a 
ship with a shell of any other material.
    (e) Moulded Depth means the vertical distance measured amidships 
from the top of the keel to the top of the freeboard deck beam at side 
except that--
    (1) In vessels of other than metal construction, the distance is 
measured from the lower edge of the keel rabbet;
    (2) Where the form at the lower part of the midship section is of a 
hollow character, or where thick garboards are fitted, the distance is 
measured from the point where the line of the flat of the bottom 
continued inwards cuts the side of the keel;
    (3) In ships having rounded gunwales, this distance is measured to 
the point of intersection of the moulded lines of the deck and side, the 
lines extending as though the gunwale were of angular design; and
    (4) Where the freeboard deck is stepped and the raised part of the 
deck extends over the point at which the moulded depth is to be 
determined, the distance is measured to a line of reference extending 
from the lower part of the deck along a line parallel with the raised 
part.
    (f) Depth for Freeboard (D) means--
    (1) Moulded depth amidships plus the thickness of the stringer plate 
with no allowance for sheathing; and
    (2) In a vessel having a rounded gunwale with a radius greater than 
4 percent of the breadth (B) or having topsides of unsual form, the 
depth for freeboard (D) of a vessel having a midship section with 
vertical topsides and with the same round of beam and area of topside 
section equal to that provided by the actual midship section.
    (g) Freeboard means the distance measured vertically downwards 
amidships from the upper edge of the deck line to the upper edge of the 
related load line.
    (h) Freeboard Deck means, normally, the uppermost complete deck 
exposed to weather and sea that has permanent means of closing all 
openings in the weather part thereof and below which all openings in the 
sides of the ship are fitted with permanent means of watertight closings 
except that--
    (1) In a ship having a discontinuous freeboard deck, the lowest line 
of the exposed deck and the continuation of that line parallel to the 
upper part of the deck is the freeboard deck.
    (2) At the option of the owner and subject to the approval of the 
Commandant a lower deck may be designated as the freeboard deck, if it 
is a complete and permanent deck continuous in a fore and aft direction 
at least between the machinery space and peak bulkheads and continuous 
athwartships;
    (3) When this lower deck is stepped the lowest line of the deck and 
the continuation of that line parallel to the upper part of the deck is 
taken as the freeboard deck.

[[Page 74]]

    (i) Superstructure means a deck structure on the freeboard deck, 
extending from side to side of the ship or with the side plating not 
being inboard of the shell plating more than 4 percent of the breadth 
(B). A raised quarterdeck is a superstructure.
    (j) Enclosed superstructure means a superstructure with enclosing 
bulkheads.
    (k) Height of a superstructure means the least vertical height 
measured at side from the top of the superstructure deck beams to the 
top of the freeboard deck beams.
    (l) Length of a superstructure (S) means the mean length of the part 
of the superstructure which extends to the sides of the vessel and lies 
within the length (L).
    (m) Flush deck ship means a ship that has no superstructure on the 
freeboard deck.
    (n) Weathertight means that in any sea conditions water will not 
penetrate into the ship.
    (o) Watertight means designed to withstand a static head of water.
    (p) Exposed positions means exposed to weather and sea.
    (q) Intact bulkhead with respect to superstructure means a bulkhead 
with no openings.
    (r) Steel means steel and materials with which structures can be 
made equivalent to steel with respect to such parameters as yield 
strength, total deflection, flexural life, or resistance to galvanic or 
stress corrosion.