Nautical Term: Draft, mean
Definition of Draft, mean
Mean draft refers to the average depth of a vessel when submerged to the depths measured at the bow and stern. For a vessel with a straight keel, the mean draft is determined by measuring the depth of water at the middle length of the waterline.
For instance, consider a cargo ship with a mean draft of 12 meters (39 feet). While approaching the port, the depth of water at the bow is measured to be 10 meters (33 feet), while at the stern, it is measured to be 14 meters (46 feet). The mean draft of the ship, calculated as the average of the drafts measured at the bow and stern, is 12 meters (39 feet).
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