# The Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Regulations 1998, Regulation 18: Load lines


(1) Except as otherwise provided for in paragraph (3), the load lines shown in Figure 2 shall consist of horizontal lines of 230 millimetres in length and 25 millimetres in width extending forward or abaft of a vertical line 25 millimetres in width marked 540 millimetres forward of the centre of the ring of the load line mark and at right angles to that line. The individual load lines shall be as follows—
(a) the Summer load line, which shall extend forward of the said vertical line, and shall correspond horizontally with the line passing through the centre of the ring of the load line mark, and shall be marked S;
(b) the Winter load line, which shall extend forward of the vertical line, and be marked W;
(c) the Winter North Atlantic load line, which shall extend forward of the vertical line, and be marked WNA;
(d) the Tropical load line, which shall extend forward of the vertical line, and be marked T;
(e) the Fresh Water load line, which shall extend abaft the vertical line, and be marked F; and
(f) the Tropical Fresh Water load line, which shall extend abaft the vertical line and be marked TF.
(2) The maximum depth to which a ship may be loaded in relation to a load line referred to in paragraph (1) shall be the depth indicated by the upper edge of the appropriate load line.
(3) In the case of a sailing ship—
(a) the Summer load line shall consist of the line passing through the centre of the ring of the load line mark; and
(b) the Winter North Atlantic load line and Fresh Water load line only shall be marked on the ship as shown in Figure 3.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2241/regulation/18 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-load-line-regulations-1998/regulation-18
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.