Draught Depth to which a ship is immersed in the water; this depth varies according to

such as cargo, ballast, fuel and spares, but also on the density of the water in which the ship is lying (see water density below). A ship’s draught is determined by reading her draught marks, a scale marked on the ship’s stem and stern. A ship’s draught is important in working out how much cargo she is allowed to lift (calculated before and during loading), in determining what ports or places are accessible to her at different times of year, and in contributing to her safe navigation.