The heeling moment generated by passenger crowding is a critical stability factor for passenger vessels, especially ferries and cruise ships. It arises when the collective weight of passengers is offset from the vesselβs longitudinal centreline, creating a torque that tends to rotate the hull about its longitudinal axis.
The magnitude of this torque can be expressed as the product of the total passenger weight, the gravitational acceleration, and the transverse distance of the centre of mass of the crowd from the centreline. A distribution factor (phi) is often introduced to account for nonβuniform crowding patterns.
Naval architects use this relationship to verify that the vesselβs righting arm and reserve stability remain adequate under worstβcase crowding scenarios, ensuring compliance with SOLAS and classification society rules.
What is the formula for calculating the heeling moment of passengers?
Why is it important to consider the heeling moment caused by passengers?
How does passenger distribution impact the heeling moment?
Can this calculator be used for both ferries and cruise ships?
What does a high heeling moment indicate about the vessel’s stability?
How do I input passenger weights into the calculator?
What is the role of gravitational acceleration in this calculation?
Results are for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional advice.
