Code of Federal Regulations Title 46. Shipping § 46.45.55 Freeboard coefficient

(a) For ships less than 350 feet in length (L), the freeboard coefficient is P ₁ in the formula:

P₁ = P + A [(L/D)–(L/D_s)]

where P is a factor, which is a function of the length from table 1 and “A” is a coefficient, which is a function of length (L), from table 2;  L/D is the ratio of the length (L) to the depth for freeboard (D);  L/D_sis the ratio of the length (L) to a standard depth (D_s) from table 3.

D is not to be used as less than that which will give a ration of L to D that is:

(b) For ships 350 feet or more in length (L), the coefficient “A” is zero and the formula is:

P₁=P

where P is a factor, which is a function of length from table (1).