Define trim.

Define trim.

• A. The difference between the forward and aft drafts
• B. The overall length of the ship
• C. The weight distribution across the hull
• D. The angle of heel

Answer: (A)

Trim is the longitudinal tilt of a vessel in the water, defined as the difference between the forward draft and the aft draft. It shows whether the bow or the stern sits deeper in the water, reflecting how weight is distributed along the length. If the forward draft is greater than the aft draft, the bow is deeper and the ship sits with trim by the bow; if the aft draft is greater, trim is by the stern. This is different from heel (the sideways tilt) and from overall length or just weight distribution, which describe other aspects of the ship’s condition. Measuring the drafts at the forward and aft perpendiculars and subtracting gives the trim value, and changes in loading, ballast, or ballast water affect it.

Trim is the longitudinal tilt of a vessel in the water, defined as the difference between the forward draft and the aft draft. It shows whether the bow or the stern sits deeper in the water, reflecting how weight is distributed along the length. If the forward draft is greater than the aft draft, the bow is deeper and the ship sits with trim by the bow; if the aft draft is greater, trim is by the stern. This is different from heel (the sideways tilt) and from overall length or just weight distribution, which describe other aspects of the ship’s condition. Measuring the drafts at the forward and aft perpendiculars and subtracting gives the trim value, and changes in loading, ballast, or ballast water affect it.