The load line (Plimsoll Mark) is a vital safety standard that marks the maximum depth at which a ship can be safely loaded—maintaining stability, buoyancy, and structural integrity during a voyage. As a Flag State-approved agency, BKI has full authority to conduct surveys, calculations, and certification to ensure your ship's load line markings are accurate and valid.
Preventing overloading is key to maritime safety. Proper markings ensure the vessel maintains stability, buoyancy, and an adequate safety margin throughout its voyage.
Every vessel must undergo an annual Load Line Survey. BKI's expert surveyors will perform thorough inspections to confirm compliance with international requirements. Timely completion of this survey is critical—delaying it can lead to detention of the vessel and operational interruptions.
BKI offers two types of load line certification, depending on your vessel's area of operation and regulatory framework. Both certificates are valid for a period of 5 (five) years, conditional upon successful periodic surveys.
BKI has a clear and efficient procedure to guide you through the certification process from start to finish.
Submit your application to the nearest BKI branch office. At this stage, you will also need to submit key technical documents, including the General Arrangement drawingand Stability Calculation, for our review.
A BKI Surveyor will visit your vessel to verify that all requirements related to the load line are met onboard.
Following a successful survey and review, the BKI Head Office or a Regional Office will issue a formal "Instruction of Freeboard Mark Installation."
The installation of the official freeboard marks on the vessel's hull must be supervised by a BKI Surveyor to ensure it is done accurately and according to regulations.
Once the marks are correctly installed and verified, BKI will issue the final Load Line Certificate for your vessel.
