DYNAMICAL STABILITY

The ‘dynamical stability’ of a ship at any particular angle of

heel is defined as the work done by wind/waves or any other
external forces to heel the ship to that angle.

Bf A ship is initially upright with

Bf and Wf acting through B
and G respectively.
BG = vertical separation of
G
points of application of Bf
B and Wf.
When the ship is heeled to
some angle , B moves to B1
Wf parallel to bb1.
 BG < B1Z
i.e. the vertical separation
b between B and G has now
G Z b1 increased. Work has been
done by the heeling force to
B B1 drive these points of
application of the forces of
Bf and Wf apart.

DYNAMICAL STABILITY = WORK DONE, and;

WORK DONE (by wind/waves etc.) = W  (B1Z - BG) t-m

Dynamical stability (MAR) 1

Considering the formula:
WORK DONE (by wind/waves etc.) = W  (B1Z - BG) t-m

b
h1
h
G Z
b1

P R
B
B1

(B1Z - BG) represents the increase in vertical separation of B

and G as a result of the ship being heeled. Moseley’s formula
considers the transferred wedge of buoyancy and dynamical
stability could be calculated thus:

Dynamical Stability = W  [v(bh + b1h1)] + BG Cos - BG

V

Dynamical stability (MAR) 2

Since a curve of statical stability (GZ curve) should be
available, it is more practical for dynamical stability to be
calculated by consideration of the area under the curve up to
the angle of heel concerned.

GZ
(m)

0 
Heel ()
i.e.
Dynamical Stability = Sum of all righting moments 0 to 

or: Dynamical Stability = W  (Area 0 to )

It should be noted that the M.S. (Load Line) Regulations 1998

specify minimum areas under the curve, up to specified angles
of heel, to ensure that minimum dynamical stability
requirements are met; for these purposes area is expressed in
metre-radians. Hence, dynamical stability is expressed in:
tonnes-metre-radians
(since radians are simply a ratio of  to 57.3, the radians are
often ignored, so dynamical stability units may be expressed as
tonnes-metres.)
Dynamical stability (MAR) 3
Important points to note
1. Transverse statical stability is given by:
Righting moment (t-m) = W  GZ
where GZ is a measure of how far G and B are horizontally
separated.

It is a measure of the ‘work available’ to right the ship at a

particular angle of heel (assuming ‘still water’ conditions -
no external forces.)

2. Dynamical stability is given by:

Dynamical stability (t-m) = W  (B1Z - BG)
where (B1Z - BG) is a measure of the increase in vertical
separation of B and G at the angle of heel concerned.

3. Consider the curve of statical stability shown.

GZ

1 2

At both angles of heel 1 and 2 statical stability is the

same.
But, dynamical stability at 2 is greater than at 1
(consider the areas under the curve up to the angles of heel
concerned).
Dynamical stability (MAR) 4
4. Compare the curves of statical and dynamical stability.

Inflexion of DS curve

GZ
(m)

DS
(t-m)

MAXIMUM GZ

Angle of
vanishing stability

The curve of dynamical stability has a point of inflexion at

the angle of heel when GZ is maximum.
Since dynamical stability is a measure of the work to be
done by external forces to heel the ship over to a particular
angle of heel, dynamical stability continues to increase
with heel as long as the ship continues to resist i.e. so
long as the ship has positive righting levers.

Dynamical stability (MAR) 5