Nautical Term: Cross curves of stability
Definition of Cross curves of stability
The term cross curves of stability refers to a set of curves illustrating the changes in a ship’s transverse stability as the displacement varies for a given range of heel angles.
One such curve is known as the Curve of Statical Stability, which depicts how the righting lever experienced by a ship varies with angle as the ship is rotated about a fore and aft axis. This curve defines a ship’s stability at large angles and is also known as the GZ curve.
For instance, consider a large container ship encountering heavy seas. To ensure the ship’s safety, the master and navigators need to have a thorough understanding of the ship’s stability at large angles. By referring to the ship’s GZ curve, they can determine the critical heel angles at which the ship may experience rolling instability. Based on this information, the master and navigators can take appropriate measures to avoid encountering seas with wave heights that would put the ship at risk of rolling instability.
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