Plimsoll Line (Load Line)
A reference mark located on a ship's hull that indicates the maximum depth to which the vessel may be safely immersed when loaded with cargo.
Bridge-use context
The Plimsoll line is the visible limit that connects legal load-line assignment with the vessel's actual loading condition. It is checked together with draft readings, density correction, seasonal zone, freeboard and stability margin before the ship sails.
Use this reference together with the linked article and calculator pages. A term page should answer the immediate definition, then point the reader toward the workflow where the value is checked, recorded or challenged during a real watch.
Operational checks
- Confirm the applicable load-line zone and season.
- Compare observed drafts and freeboard against the assigned marks.
- Review stability and FWA/DWA corrections before departure.
Related bridge checks
See how CaptainCalc handles this automatically
