Sketchplanations

Explaining one thing a week in a sketch

An explanation of the plimsoll line, the international load line, for how high a ship sits in the water

The Plimsoll line

The International Load Line, formerly called the Plimsoll Line, is an internationally adopted system for ensuring ships aren’t overloaded. Safe loading levels vary depending on the salinity—how salty it is—and the temperature of the water.

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Strand line illustration: a beach showing the line where debris is stranded by high tide
Buoyancy and how ships float explained showing 1m3 of water displaced supporting a tonne of weight and the same principle floating a 50,000 tonne ship
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