Code on intact stability has been assembled to provide, in a single document, recommended provisions relating to intact stability, based primarily on existing IMO instruments. Where recommendations in this Code appear to differ from other IMO Codes, such as the MODU Code or DSC Code, the other Codes should be taken as the prevailing instrument.
Purpose of the code on intact stability:
The purpose of the Code on Intact Stability for All Types of Ships Covered by IMO Instruments, hereinafter referred to as the Code, is to recommend stability criteria and other measures for ensuring the safe operation of all ships to minimize the risk to such ships, to the personnel on board and to the environment.
This Code contains intact stability criteria for the following types of ships and other marine vehicles of 24 m in length and above unless otherwise stated:
- Cargo ships.
- Cargo ships carrying
- Deck cargo cargo ships carrying grain in bulk .
- Passenger
- Fishing vessels.
- Special purpose ships
- Offshore supply vessels .
- Mobile offshore drilling units
- Pontoons
- Dynamically supported craft
- Containerships
The coastal State may impose additional requirements regarding the design aspects of ships of novel design or ships not otherwise covered by the Code
Stability data and associated plans should be drawn up in the official language or languages of the issuing country and the language of the master. If the languages used are neither English nor French the text should include a translation into one of these languages.
Each ship should be provided with a stability booklet, approved by the Administration, which contains sufficient information to enable the master to operate the ship in compliance with the applicable requirements contained in the Code.
- A general description of the ship;
- Instructions on the use of the booklet;
- General arrangement plans showing watertight compartments, closures, vents, downflooding angles, permanent ballast, allowable deck loadings and freeboard diagrams;
- Hydrostatic curves or tables and cross curves of stability calculated on a free-trimming basis, for the ranges of displacement and trim anticipated in normal operating conditions;
- Capacity plan or tables showing capacities and centres of gravity for each cargo stowage space;
- Tank sounding tables showing capacities, centres of gravity, and free surface data for each tank;
- Information on loading restrictions, such as maximum KG or minimum GM curve or table that can be used to determine compliance with the applicable stability criteria;
- Standard operating conditions and examples for developing other acceptable loading conditions using the information contained in the stability booklet;
- A brief description of the stability calculations done, including assumptions;
- General precautions for preventing unintentional flooding;
- Information concerning the use of any special cross-flooding fittings with descriptions of damage conditions which may require cross-flooding;
- Any other necessary guidance for the safe operation of the ship under normal and emergency conditions;
- A table of contents and index for each booklet;
- Inclining test report for the ship, or:
- where the stability data are based on a sister ship, the inclining test report of that sister ship along with the light-ship measurement report for the ship in question; or
- where light-ship particulars are determined by other methods than from inclining of the ship or its sister, a summary of the method used to determine those particulars;
Recommendation for determination of ship’s stability by means of an in-service inclining test.
