[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR69.109]

[Page 399-401]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 69_MEASUREMENT OF VESSELS--Table of Contents
 
                  Subpart C_Standard Measurement System
 
Sec. 69.109  Under-deck tonnage.

    (a) Defined. ``Under-deck tonnage'' means the tonnage of the space 
below the line of the tonnage deck, as that volume is calculated under 
this section.
    (b) Method of calculating tonnage. Under-deck tonnage is calculated 
by applying Simpson's first rule using the tonnage length and the areas 
of the transverse sections prescribed by this section.
    (c) Identifying the tonnage deck. In vessels with two or less decks, 
the tonnage deck is the uppermost complete deck. In vessels with more 
than two decks, the tonnage deck is the second deck from the keel as 
determined in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (d) Enumerating the decks to identify the second deck from the keel. 
Only decks without openings that permit space below to be exempt from 
inclusion in under-deck tonnage are enumerated. Partial decks are not 
considered decks for the purpose of enumerating decks. However, the 
presence of engine and boiler casings, peak tanks, or cofferdams that 
penetrate a deck do not disqualify the deck from being enumerated.
    (e) Identifying the line of the tonnage deck. (1) If the tonnage 
deck runs in a continuous line from stem to stern, the line of the 
tonnage deck is the longitudinal line at the underside of the tonnage 
deck.
    (2) If the tonnage deck runs at different levels from stem to stern, 
the line of the tonnage deck is the longitudinal line of the underside 
of the lowest portion of that deck parallel with the upper portions of 
that deck. (See Sec. 69.123, figures 1 and 2.) Spaces between the line 
of the tonnage deck and the higher portions of that deck are not 
included in under-deck tonnage.
    (f) Tonnage length. (1) ``Tonnage length'' means the length of a 
horizontal straight line measured at the centerline of the vessel from 
the point forward where the line of the tonnage deck intersects the line 
of the inboard faces of the ordinary side frames to the point aft where 
the line of the tonnage deck intersects the inboard face of the transom 
frames or cant frames. (See Sec. 69.123, figure 3.)
    (2) For a vessel having a headblock or square end with framing which 
extends from the tonnage deck to the bottom of the vessel, the tonnage 
length terminates on the inboard face of the head block or end framing. 
When a headblock extends inboard past the face of the end side frames or 
when the headblock plates are excessive in length, the tonnage length 
terminates at the extreme end of the vessel less a distance equal to the 
thickness of an ordinary side frame and shell plating. (See Sec. 
69.123, figure 4.)
    (3) For a vessel having a square bow or stern and tonnage deck with 
camber, the effect of the camber on the tonnage length must be 
considered. The tonnage length must be measured below the tonnage deck 
at a distance equal to one-third of round camber and one-half of 
straight pitch camber.
    (g) Division of vessel into transverse sections. (1) Except as under 
paragraph (m)(1)(iii) of this section, the tonnage length is divided 
into an even number of equal parts as indicated in the following table:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Class                      Tonnage length      Divisions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...................................  50 ft. or less.........         6
2...................................  Over 50 ft. but not             8
                                       exceeding 100 ft.
3...................................  Over 100 ft. but not           10
                                       exceeding 150 ft.
4...................................  Over 150 ft. but not           12
                                       exceeding 200 ft.
5...................................  Over 200 ft. but not           14
                                       exceeding 250 ft.
6...................................  Over 250 ft............        16
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 400]]

    (2) Transverse sections are cut at each end of the tonnage length 
and at each point of division of the tonnage length. Intervals and one-
third intervals between the points of division are measured to the 
nearest thousandth of a foot. (See Sec. 69.123 figures 5 and 6.)
    (h) Depths of transverse sections. (1) Transverse section depths are 
measured at each point of division of the tonnage length at the 
centerline of the vessel from a point below the line of the tonnage deck 
equal to one-third of the camber or to one-half of the pitch of the beam 
down to the upper side of the ordinary frames, floors, longitudinals, or 
tank top of a cellular double bottom, as the case may be.
    (2) When a depth falls at a point where the tank top of a double 
bottom has a straight fall from centerline to the wings, the depth 
terminates at one-half of the height of fall. (See Sec. 69.123 figure 
8.)
    (3) When a depth falls at a point where the tank top of a double 
bottom rises from the centerline to the wings, the depth terminates at 
one-half the dead rise. (See Sec. 69.123, figure 9.)
    (4) The depth at the midpoint of the tonnage length or, when a 
vessel is measured in parts, the depth at the midpoint of each part 
determines the number of equal parts into which each depth is divided, 
as follows:
    (i) If the midpoint depth is 16 feet or less, each depth is divided 
into four equal parts. If the midpoint depth exceeds 16 feet, each depth 
is divided into six equal parts. (See Sec. 69.123, figure 7.)
    (ii) The interval between the points of division of a depth and one-
third intervals are carried to the nearest hundredth of a foot.
    (i) Breadths of transverse sections. (1) Transverse section breadths 
are measured horizontally at each point of division of each depth and 
also at the upper and lower points of each depth. Breadths are measured 
to the inboard face of the ordinary frames or to the line of the 
ordinary frames. Breadths are measured parallel to each other and at 
right angle to the vessel's centerline. (See Sec. 69.123, figure 7.)
    (2) Upper breadths are not reduced by measuring to deck-beam 
brackets. In cases of camber when an upper breadth passes through the 
deck (see Sec. 69.123, figure 7), the breadth is measured to the line 
of the side frames at the under side of the deck projected vertically up 
to the height of the upper breadth.
    (3) Bottom breadths are measured only as far as the flat of the 
floor extends. (See Sec. 69.123, figures 7 and 10.) When bottom frames 
rise immediately from the flat keel, bottom breadths are equal to the 
breadth of the flat keel. Where there is no double bottom and where 
there is dead rise of the bottom out to the sides of the vessel, bottom 
breadths are equal to the part of the bottom plating not affected by 
dead rise.
    (4) Bottom breadths falling in way of a double bottom, the top of 
which rises or falls from certerline to the wings, are measured between 
the inboard faces of the frame brackets which connect the double bottom 
with the frames. (See Sec. 69.123, figures 8 and 9.)
    (j) Measuring spaces having ceiling. The maximum allowance for 
terminating measurements on ceiling is three inches on the bottom frames 
or tank top and three inches on each side frame. When ceiling is less 
than three inches thick, only the actual thickness is allowed. When 
ceiling is fitted on a platform directly above the bottom frames, depths 
are measured down through the platform to the upper side of the frames 
and the allowable ceiling on the platform is then deducted.
    (k) Area of transverse sections. (1) A transverse section at an end 
of the tonnage length may not yield area, except in vessels (such as 
barges) with an upright bow or stern.
    (2) The breadths of each transverse section are numbered from above, 
the upper being ``1'', the second down being ``2'', and so on to the 
lowest.
    (3) Multiply the even numbered breadths by four and the odd numbered 
breadths by two, except for the first and last breadths, which are 
multiplied by one.
    (4) Add together the products from paragraph (k)(3) of this section.
    (5) Multiply the sum from paragraph (k)(4) of this section by one-
third of the interval between the breadths. The product is the area of 
the transverse section.

[[Page 401]]

    (l) Tonnage. (1) Number the transverse sections successively ``1'', 
``2'', and so forth, beginning at the bow.
    (2) Multiply the area of the even numbered sections by four and the 
area of the odd numbered sections by two, except the first and last 
sections, which are multiplied by one.
    (3) Add together the products from paragraph (l)(2) of this section 
and multiply the sum by one-third of the interval between the sections. 
The product is the volume under-deck.
    (4) The volume under-deck is divided by 100 and is, subject to 
exemptions, the under-deck tonnage.
    (m) Steps in double bottom. (1) The tonnage length of a vessel 
having a step exceeding six inches in height in its double bottom is 
divided into longitudinal parts at the step. Each part is subdivided as 
follows to determine the number of transverse sections:
    (i) Parts 20 feet or under in length are divided into two equal 
parts.
    (ii) Parts over 20 feet and under 40 feet in length are divided into 
four equal parts.
    (iii) Parts 40 feet or over are divided as provided in paragraph 
(g)(1) of this section.
    (2) The tonnage of each part is calculated separately. The sum of 
the tonnages of the parts is the under-deck tonnage.
    (n) Outside shaft tunnel exclusion. Any portion of an outside shaft 
tunnel included in tonnage through the process of measurement is 
subtracted from the under-deck tonnage.
    (o) Open vessels. (1) An open vessel is one of any length without a 
deck or with one or more partial decks, the total length of which is 
less than one-half the tonnage length.
    (2) The line of the tonnage deck for an open vessel is the upper 
edge of the upper strake. Depths of transverse sections are taken from 
this line.
    (3) Any vessel, other than one having a mechanically refrigerated 
hold, that is not an open vessel and that has a tonnage length of less 
than 50 feet is measured as an open vessel, if the distance between the 
line of its tonnage deck and the upper edge of the upper strake is more 
than one-sixth of the midship depth. ``Midship depth'' means the depth 
measured from the line of the upper edge of the upper strake to the 
point in the bottom used for measuring tonnage depths.

[CGD 87-015b, 54 FR 37657, Sept. 12, 1989; 54 FR 40240, Sept. 29, 1989]