Displacement (ship)
Videos
The displacement or displacement tonnage of a ship is its weight. As the term indicates, it is measured indirectly, using Archimedes' principle, by first calculating the volume of water displaced by t
Draft marks, by showing how low a ship is sitting in the water, make it possible to determine displacement.
Shipboard stability computer programs can be used to calculate a vessel's displacement.
In this 1940 photo, USS Aaron Ward, left, and USS Abel P. Upshur are destroyers of comparable size, but because the latter is more heavily loaded, it sits lower, displacing more water.
Greek philosopher Archimedes having his famous bath, the birth of the theory of displacement
Draft (hull)
Videos
The draft or draught of a ship is a determined depth of the vessel below the waterline, measured vertically to its hull's lowest—its propellers, or keel, or other reference point. Draft varies accordi
Displacement (ship)
…commercial vessels and measured by tonnage: net tonnage and gross tonnage. The process of determining a vessel's displacement begins with measuring its draft. This is accomplished by means of its "draft marks". A merchant vessel has three matching sets: one mark each on the port and starboard sides forward…
Draft markings on the stern of the Cutty Sark, an example of the Imperial system of such markings.
Draft marks on a ship's bow
Load line mark and draft marks on the side of a ship