Down to her marks. This expression means that the vessel has been loaded to her maximum permissible draught, either winter, summer or tropical loadlines, as the case may be.
It does not imply that all cargo space has been filled. If both deadweight and cargo space have been fully utilised the ship is “full and down It depends on the stowage factor of the cargo whether the vessel will be full and down.
Upon checking the weight of the cargo loaded by a vessel when down to her marks, there may be a considerable difference with the deadweight capacity for cargo based upon the ship’s capacity plan, after allowance for bunkers, water, stores, etc.
This difference may be explained by incorrect estimate of bunkers, water, stores, dunnage, etc., or incorrect reading of the ship’s draught in choppy water.
Sufficient allowance should be made for the difference in specific gravity of salt and fresh water, the loadlines being based upon loading in seawater.
