200026 Squat Confusion

26 Jan 2000 MARS

Squat Confusion
Report No. 200026

As a pilot operating in shallow waters an important part of my discussion with a ship's Master is about squat and how it affects his ship. Squat tables are becoming more common but there are still many vessels that do not carry this information. It may interest the reader to hear some of the comments I have received when I have asked about squat......

  • On a 120m LOA fast feeder container ship: "We do not have any squat Mr. Pilot." When I expressed some surprise at this and suggested that I would expect about 1.5m, maybe more, on a vessel of this type, I was met with an emphatic "No Mr. Pilot, if we had that much squat the deck would be under the water !"
  • On a 110m LOA fast feeder container ship: "Yes we have squat tables but I don't think they are right. I have been reading the midships draught and it does not change no matter what speed we do."
  • On a160m LOA 9m draught bulker: "We have no tables but we have a squat gauge." I said that I had not heard of such a device and asked the Captain how it worked. That was not known and on further questioning it appeared that this gauge was actually showing trim....."Yes Mr. Pilot - Squat !"

It would appear that this subject still causes confusion.

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