What is Timber load line on ships and its details?

• Type and compactness of timber cargo. Example:  logs, cants, ragged end packages, square (or flush) both ends, etc.
• Type of vessel – timber load line or not.
• Strength, pitch and tending of lashings.
• Height of cargo and stability considerations.
• Measures to deliberately jettison cargo.
• Keeping clear all sounding and air pipes necessary for the working of the ship, ensuring means of safe access to all parts of the ship, keeping cargo hold ventilators clear for operation.
• ‘Under-deck’ and ‘on-deck’ bills of lading.
• Hatchcovers and other openings below decks should be securely closed and battened down.
• Hatches and decks, and the cargo itself, should be kept free of any accumulations of ice and snow.
• All deck lashings, uprights, etc, in position before loading commences.
• The cargo must not interfere in any way with the navigation or necessary working of the ship.

During the winter season the height of the timber deck cargo above the weather deck may not exceed one third of the extreme breadth of the ship. At other times the regulations do not prescribe any limit. The deck load may be built up to any height, consistent, of course, with the general requirements of safety and stability, and must not exceed the designed maximum permissible load on the weather decks and hatches.

The height of the deck cargo should be restricted so that the visibility from the navigation bridge is not impaired and any forward facing profile of the timber cargo on deck does not present overhanging shoulders to a head sea.

Ship’s personnel must also be protected and, if timber cargo is carried on deck, guard rails or guard lines must be provided on each side of the deck cargo, together with a lifeline to allow the crew to move along the surface of the timber over the length of the ship. The IMO “Code of Safe Practice for Ships Carrying Timber Deck Cargoes” contains many more guidelines, all aimed at overall safety.