How A Ship’s Gross Tonnage Is Computated (1920)

This Knowledge Is Necessary to Understand Thoroughly Relation Between Cubical and Carrying Capacity

By ROBERT PHILLIPS

All of us who are concerned with shipping are more or less familiar with tonnage terms, though we may not understand just how tonnage measurements are taken. This is a matter of importance, especially to those who are about to construct or otherwise acquire ships, as a clear understanding of our measurement rules will lead to a more thorough knowledge of the relation between tonnage and carrying capacity.

Before any vessel may be registered, enrolled, or licensed, she must be measured by an officer of the customs, who ascertains, among other things, her gross tonnage and net tonnage. The unit of measurement is 100 cubic feet, and is known as the ton, by which is expressed the internal capacity of the measured spaces of vessels. Certain spaces are, by our laws, exempt from measurement, as described further on.

The gross tonnage of a vessel consists of the sum of the following items:

• The cubical capacity below the tonnage deck.
• The cubical capacity of each space between decks above the tonnage deck.
• The cubical capacity of the permanent closed-in spaces on the upper deck available for cargo or stores or for the berthing or accommodation of passengers or crew.
• The excess of hatchways.
• All permanent closed-in spaces situated elsewhere available for cargo or stores, or for the accommodation of the crew, or for the charts of navigating instruments (except cabins or staterooms for passengers constructed entirely above the first deck which is not a deck to the hull).

Under-Deck Tonnage

The first step is to ascertain the “tonnage length.” The points between which the tonnage length is measured are not the same as those used to determine the register length. The forward point is at the underside of the tonnage deck plank (or plate, in a steel vessel), where the inside of the inner planking meets the fide of the stem.

In steel ships where there is no inner planking, a fair line is drawn around the inside of the frames, to meet the side of the stem. The most convenient way to measure the tonnage length is on the top side of the tonnage deck. But as the object of the measurement is to ascertain the cubical capacity under the tonnage deck, and as there may be some rake to the stem, the increased length caused thereby must be deducted.

How this is done is shown in an accompanying sketch.

The after point is where the underside of the tonnage deck planking meets the inside of the inner planking on the stern timbers or frames (or the inside of angle irons or frames in a steel vessel), less the rake of the stem frame to the extent of one-third of the round of the beam at that point. If the length is measured on top of the deck plank, then the rake of the stem timber or frame in the thickness of the deck must also be deducted.

The after point is also shown in the sketch. In the case of iron or steel vessels with steel decks, the rakes of the bow and stern in the thickness of the deck is negligible and may be disregarded altogether; but with wooden ships, where the decks are quite thick, it must be considered.

Tonnage Length

The tonnage length so ascertained is then divided into equal parts as follows:

Under 50 feet, 6 parts; 50 to 100 feet, 8 parts; 100 to 150 feet, 10 parts; 150 to 200 feet, 12 parts; 200 to 250 feet, 14 parts; above 250 feet, 16 parts.

The points dividing the tonnage length according to the above table are to be marked with chalk and numbered consecutively from bow to stern, No. 1 being the extreme forward point. Should a vessel have a break in the line of her double bottom, her tonnage length is to be divided into longitudinal sections by erecting transverse vertical planes at such breaks.

The length of each section is then to be divided into the number of equal parts according to the table just as if it were the length of a separate ship. The tonnage length having thus been determined and divided into the required number of equal parts, the points of division are transferred to the keelson. This is done by first locating on the keelson the position of the midship section, from which is measured the common interval between the points of division.

Ascertaining Depth

The next step is to ascertain the tonnage depth of the midship section and of each other section. The tonnage depth is that distance between a point located one-third of the round of the deck-beam below the tonnage dock plank and a point on the upper side of the ceiling, if any, on the floor timbers or frames—otherwise to the upper side of the floor timber or frame—at the inside of the limber-strake.

In case the vessel is constructed with a double bottom for water ballast only, the tonnage depth is to be taken to the upper side of the inner plating of the double bottom, allowing for ceiling, if any, and where vessels have deep double bottoms or deep tanks at the bottom having ordinary floors therein, used other than for water ballast, the depth shall be taken to the upper side of the floors.

If the depth of the midship section is less than sixteen feet, the depth of each section is to be divided into four equal parts—and if it exceeds sixteen feet, into six parts. After the divisions of the tonnage depth are located at each section, the inside horizontal breadth at each point of division (including the upper and lower points) is measured to the inside of the ceiling, average thickness, or, if the ship be not ceiled, to the inside faces of the frames.

Transverse Sections

Now we are ready to ascertain the area of each transverse section. Where the tonnage depth is less than sixteen feet, and each section therefore divided into four equal parts, the area is obtained in the following manner.

The breadths are numbered from above. No. 1 being at the top and No. 5 at the bottom. Multiply the second and fourth by 4, and the third by 2, add the products, and to the sum add the first and fifth breadths; multiply the quantity thus obtained by one-third of the common interval between breadths and the product will be the transverse area of the section.

As all measurements are taken in feet and decimals of feet, the areas are in square feet. Where the midship tonnage depth exceeds sixteen feet, or where the vessel has a double bottom, there is a slight change in the formula, but the principle is the same.

The hull has been divided into a number of equal sections and the area of each section ascertained. To obtain the cubical capacity under the tonnage deck, the areas are combined as follows: The sections are numbered consecutively, beginning at the bow. Multiply the area of the even-numbered sections by 4, and of the odd-numbered sections, except the first and last, by 2; these products are to be added to the first and last areas.

The sum thus obtained is then multiplied by one-third of the common interval between the sections, and the product will be the number of cubic feet below the tonnage deck which when divided by 100, will give the under-deck tonnage.

The between-deck tonnage is arrived at upon much the same principle and then divided by 100.

Spaces on Upper Deck

If there be a break, poop, or any permanent closed-in space on or above the upper, or spar deck available for cargo or stores, or for the berthing or accommodation of crew or passengers (except the passenger accommodations on a deck not to the hull, exempted by law), the tonnage of such space must be ascertained.

It is found in a manner similar to the method employed in finding the other tonnage, except that the space is divided longitudinally into an even number of equal parts, which must be most nearly equal to the length of the sections of the tonnage deck, and the breadths must be taken at the middle of its height.

The cubical contents of the hatchway must be obtained by multiplying the length by the breadth; the product is then multiplied by the mean depth taken from the top of the beam to the underside of the hatch. The whole amount of the hatchway tonnage is not to be added, but only that part of the hatchway tonnage which exceeds one-half of one percent, of the gross tonnage of the ship exclusive of the tonnage of the hatchways.

Spaces Exempted

Certain space* are exempt from measurement, but they must not be confused with the deductions made to ascertain the net tonnage. Double bottoms for water ballast are not measured; side water ballast tanks extending up from the top of the double bottom wholly or partly to the deck above are likewise exempt.

Spaces under the shelter deck, in the way of the shelter deck opening, are not measured if such spaces in all respects comply with the requirements of the laws. When on or above the upper deck, any space fitted with machinery, the wheelhouse, the galley, bakery, condenser space, toilets, skylights, and companions will not be measured, provided that the spaces are no larger than required for the purposes named.

Phillips, Robert, “How A Ship’s Gross Tonnage Is Computed,” in The Nautical Gazette: An International Weekly Chronicle of Shipping, Volume 99, No. 13, Whole No. 2563, New York, Saturday, 25 September 1920, P. 392-393