rately determines the weight-carrying capacity of the vessel in long tons. Cargo tonnage or ji·eight tonnage is another term for the same thing, but may be either weight (expressed in long tons) or measurement (expressed in units of 40 cubic feet) and will be designated as "W/M" depending on the whim of the ship's operator or agent. In light of this blizzard of confusing terminology, it is easy to see why a Liberty ship of World War II could be a vessel of 7, 176 gross tons, 4,380 net tons, 3,700 displacement tons light, 14,200 displacement tons loaded , 10,500 deadweight tons or 9,600 cargo capacity tons. It must be equally obvious that in describing a ship's tonnage, there must be agreement as to which type of tonnage is being discussed . In general , the United States uses deadweight tonnage as a constant for the measurement of merchant ships, the British use gross tonnage, while our navy insi sts on using displacement. When a ship passes through either the Suez or Panama canals, tonnage measurements apply which are unique to these waterways, in effect to increase the tolls. In light of the above, it is hard to believe that there is any three-letter word in the English language with as many totally different definitions! D
Mr. Hale, a retired shipyard owner, is an Honorary Trustee of NMHS and li ves on Martha 's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
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EKLOF MARINE CORP. ~~~
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