FACTORS AFFECTING THE SHAPE OF THE CURVE OF

STATICAL STABILITY
1. Effect of a change of KG
Consider a ship heeled by an external force to some angle .

Z
B1

The righting lever is GZ.

If G was lowered GZ would increase and the ship would become
more stable.
If G was raised GZ would decrease and the ship would become
less stable.
The increase or decrease in GZ can be easily calculated.

Factors affecti
ng GZ curve sha

If G raised to G1
GX = Loss of righting lever

In GG1X
Sine = OPP = GX
HYP GG1

G1

GX = GG1 Sine

Z1

If G lowered to G2
G

GY = Increase in righting lever

In GG2Y

G2

Z2

Sine = OPP = GY
HYP GG2

GY = GG2 Sine

If G is raised or lowered (KG increased or decreased) the effect

on GZ at any angle of heel can be determined by:
LOSS/INCREASE IN GZ = GGv Sine

Factors affecti
ng GZ curve sha

Effect on curve of statical stability

Imagine a ship with an initial range of stability of 90.
If G is raised (KG increased) the loss of GZ at any particular
angle of heel can be found by:
LOSS OF GZ = GGv Sine
Since Sine 0 = 0.00 and Sine 90 = 1.00 it follows that:
LOSS OF GZ WILL INCREASE AS THE ANGLE OF
HEEL INCREASES.
The effect on the curve of statical stability is shown. Remember
that if KG is increased then initial GM will be reduced.
= Loss of GZ
= GGv Sine

= Loss of GZ at 90 heel
= GGv Sine 90 = GGv 1.00 = GGv

GZ

57.3

Factors affecti
ng GZ curve sha

Summary
If KG is increased:
*
*
*
*
*

GM is reduced;
All GZ values are reduced, particularly at larger angles
of heel;
Dynamical stability is reduced, particularly at larger
angles of heel;
Range of stability is reduced;
Angle of deck edge immersion (DEI) remains the same.
ALL ASPECTS OF STABILITY ARE WORSENED!

If G was lowered (KG reduced) then all values of GZ would be

increased. Initial GM would be increased. All aspects of stability
would be improved.

Factors affecti
ng GZ curve sha

2. Effect of an athwartships shift of weight

Consider a ship initially upright with a weight w on one side
heeled by an external force to some angle .

Z
B1

The righting lever is GZ.

If the weight is moved athwartships to the other side the centre of
gravity of the ship (G) will move horizontally off the centre-line
in a direction parallel to the shift of the weight.
Consider the same ship heeled to the same angle with G now off
the centre-line at GH.

Factors affecti
ng GZ curve sha

GGH is the horizontal distance that G has moved off the centreline.
w

G
GH

Z
Z1
B1

The righting lever has been reduced from GZ to GHZ1 as a result

of the atwartships shift of weight.
The loss of GZ can be easily calculated.

Factors affecti
ng GZ curve sha

GX = Loss of righting lever as a result

of moving the weight.

In GGHX
Cosine = ADJ = GX
HYP GGH

GX = GGH Cosine

X
GH

Z
Z1

LOSS OF GZ = GGH Cosine

Factors affecti
ng GZ curve sha

Effect on curve of statical stability

Imagine a ship with an initial range of stability of 90.
If G is caused to move off the centre-line to GH the loss of GZ at
any particular angle of heel is found by:
LOSS OF GZ = GGH Cosine
Since Cosine 0 = 1.00 and Cosine 90 = 0.00 it follows that:
LOSS OF GZ WILL DECREASE AS THE ANGLE OF HEEL
INCREASES i.e. THE GREATEST LOSS OF GZ WILL BE
WHEN THE SHIP IS UPRIGHT (The ship will come to rest at
an angle of list in still water conditions!).
The effect on the curve of statical stability is shown.
= Loss of GZ
= GGH Cosine

= Loss of GZ at 0 heel
= GGH Cosine 0 = GGH 1.00 = GGH

GZ

57.3

90

LIST

Factors affecti
ng GZ curve sha

Summary
If G moves off the centre-line causing the ship to list:
*
*
*
*
*

GM remains the same;

All GZ values are reduced, particularly at smaller
angles of heel;
Dynamical stability is reduced, particularly at smaller
angles of heel;
Range of stability is reduced (since the ship is initially
listed);
Angle of deck edge immersion (DEI) remains the same,
however, less dynamical stability is available before
deck edge immersion is reached on the listed side.

Note
The M.S. (Load Line) Regulations 1998 do not specify that the
ship must be upright prior to sailing. It should now be evident
that list has a detrimental effect on ship stability, particularly
since less work by external forces will be required to heel the
ship to a dangerous angle of heel on the listed side. The
International Grain Code (IMO) recognises this fact and to
minimise the adverse effects of grain shift it is a requirement that
the Master ensures that the ship is upright prior to sailing. It
should always be borne in mind that in extreme circumstances
there may be a potential for cargo shift, which may further
significantly reduce the stability of an already listed ship.

Factors affecti
ng GZ curve sha

3. Effect of a change in freeboard

Consider two ships of similar characteristics, at the same

draughts with the same KG (and GM), but with one having a
greater freeboard as shown.
At angles of heel up to the angle of deck edge immersion of the
smaller freeboard ship the curve of statical stability will be the
same.
At angles of heel beyond the angle of deck edge immersion of
the smaller freeboard ship values of GZ will be greater for the
larger freeboard ship because curve steepness continues to
increase up to a larger angle of heel i.e. inflexion of the curve
will occur at a larger angle of heel since the angle at which the
deck edge becomes immersed is greater.

Factors affecti
ng GZ curve sha

10

Effect of the curve of statical stability

This is clearly seen below.

GZ

DEI

57.3
DEI

Summary
If freeboard is increased:
*
*
*
*
*

GM remains the same;

GZ values are increased at angles of heel beyond DEI
of the smaller freeboard ship;
Dynamical stability is increased at angles of heel
beyond DEI of the smaller freeboard ship;
Range of stability is increased;
Angle of deck edge immersion (DEI) occurs at a larger
angle of heel.

If freeboard was to be decreased then GZ values would be

reduced.

Factors affecti
ng GZ curve sha

11