YACHT FIRE PROTECTION

The Free surface effect is a mechanism that can cause a watercraft to become unstable and capsize. The free surface reduces the stability it applies to water on deck fuel or ballast in tanks bilge water and melted ice.

When people hear the term free surface moment, they often confuse it with tank sloshing. Free surface moment and tank sloshing are two separate concerns. With sloshing we are worried about the momentum of the liquid as it slams from side to side.  When tanks are constructed, they require baffles to slow the momentum into manageable size chunks to minimise free surface moment.