Charter

The Stability Panel has been established to address matters relating to the stability of ships and other marine vehicles and platforms. The Panel operates as an extension, and within the Charter, of the Ship Design Committee, under the auspices of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers ("Society").

Ship stability, defined herein broadly as its ability to remain afloat in an upright (or near-upright) position in the intact condition, or to avoid capsize or sinking in a damaged state, has evolved into an integral part of ship design to such an extent as to be taken for granted. Stability-related accidents, however, continue to occur. Some of these may be attributed to a failure to adequately apply the existing body of knowledge, both to the design and the operation of ships. Others, however, indicate the need for improved understanding of constantly evolving ship types and hull forms on one hand, and of the dynamic environment represented in the seaway, on the other. No focal point for related efforts currently exists in this country. Establishment of a Stability Panel constitutes a first step towards this end.

The Stability Panel shall be both active and responsive in stability-related areas as follows:

• It shall promote an improved understanding and a continuing concern for adequate stability on the part of ship designer and operators.
• It shall provide a forum for the exchange of knowledge and ideas for improving design procedures and approaches, documentation and guidance as well as rules and regulations.
• It shall provide - or arrange for providing - expert guidance or stability to both industry and government.
• It shall identify effort needed to either fill gaps in the existing body of knowledge or to ensure improved application of existing knowledge to design, operation and rule-making.
• It shall serve as a clearing-house for information relating to publications, reports, research effort and operational experience relating to stability.

Finally, the Panel, in general, shall emphasize practical applications over pure research, unless the latter is responsive to a strong need.

The membership of the Panel shall be selected to be representative of the professional community involved in stability matters, it should include representatives of (a) the Navy, (b) the Coast Guard, (c) MARAD, (d) MSC, (e) the design/community, (f) operators, and (g) the academic community. Members specializing in the stability of novel vessel types should also be sought, as deemed necessary. Additionally, international membership on the Panel should be encouraged, even if only available to participate on a corresponding basis.