rhys wrote:
On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 01:40:22 GMT, Brian Whatcott
wrote:


Warm water is less dense than cold water. Water expands more with
temperature than the metals, so a ship sits lower in hot water.
Moreover, water's rate of expansion increases as the temperature
rises. Another factor: water like oil, gets considerably less
viscous when warm, so a hull might be expected to be livelier, and
maybe the swell higher....


So the worst case scenario for a loaded ship would be a laden tanker
enduring a Red Sea or a Persian Gulf cyclone? I vaguely remember that
those areas are the hottest oceanic bodies on Earth.

By contrast, on a calm day in zero C. Antarctic water (ice-free,
however), the same laden ship would ride high(er) and dry.

Interesting!

R.


Actually, bending stresses would be more of a concern, than the minor
variation in draft from Tropical to Winter.
If you've flown in turbulent weather you've watched a wing flex .....
imagine watching a whole hull doing that.

otn