Centre of flotation (CF)

Nautical Term: Centre of flotation (CF)

Definition of Centre of flotation (CF)

The Centre of Flotation (CF) is the vertical position within a waterplane area of a ship where the buoyancy force is exactly equal to the weight of the water displaced by the ship’s hull. Adding or removing a small weight from the ship vertically in line with the CF will cause a change in the draft without any heel or trim. For a symmetrical ship, the CF is located on the centerline. Its position is given relative to amidships.

Here’s an example of how the Centre of Flotation (CF) would be used in a single paragraph:

The 5,000-tonne ocean liner, Majestic Mariner, experienced a significant change in her draught without any noticeable heel or trim. The captain, suspecting a possible problem with the ship’s ballast, ordered an immediate inspection of the Centre of Flotation (CF) and the distribution of the ballast water throughout the ship’s tanks. The inspection revealed that a small valve in one of the ballast water tanks had accidentally been left open during the ship’s last refueling stop. As a result, some of the

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