🔍 Key Concepts

• Load line (Plimsoll) marks and why they must be visible from piers, tugs, and survey boats • How surveyors and port state control check a vessel’s draft and freeboard on arrival • The usual location of midship markings and draft marks on a ship’s hull

💭 Think About

• If an inspector is standing on a pier on the port side, what markings must they be able to read clearly? What about someone on a launch on the starboard side? • Think about symmetry: would it make sense for such a critical safety mark to be only on one side or at the very stern? Why or why not? • Where along the length of the ship (bow, midships, stern) are draft‑related markings normally placed so they reflect the vessel’s trim and overall loading?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify that load line marks are intended to be easily read from outside the vessel in port or at anchor • Consider whether safe loading depends on information visible from only one side or from either side of the ship • Recall that load line marks are associated with the midship section, not the bow or stern areas