Regulation 5 Calculation of stability prior to departure
On completion of the loading of a ship of Class I, II or II(A) and before the ship proceeds on a voyage the master shall cause the vertical position of the ship’s centre of gravity relative to its keel (KG), or its transverse metacentric height (GM), or the deadweight moment, whichever is appropriate for the ship, to be calculated.
In the case of ships of Class II or II(A) the actual weights of goods vehicles and other items of cargo required to be provided in accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Weighing of Goods Vehicles and other Cargo) Regulations 1988f1 shall be used for the calculation. For items not required to be so weighed, the declared weights or weights estimated as accurately as possible shall be used.
The calculation required by paragraph (1) of this regulation shall be made using an on board loading and stability computer, or an approved shore-based loading and stability computer system, or by such other means as will enable accurate results to be obtained. The method by which the calculation is made shall be in accordance with Merchant Shipping Notice No. M1366.
The master shall record the result of the calculation in the official log book.
Where the calculation is made by means of a shore-based loading and stability computer system, a print-out of the calculation shall be presented to the master before the ship proceeds on its voyage.
A full record of the calculation referred to in paragraph (1) of this regulation, or a copy thereof, shall be retained on the ship for at least one calendar month after the calculation is made and shall be made available for inspection at any time during that period. In the case of a ship of Class II or II(A) a copy of the record, or the record itself, shall be forwarded as soon as is practicable to the person designated by the owner under regulation 6 of the Merchant Shipping (Operations Book) Regulations 1988f2 and retained by him for a period of at least one calendar month.