Draft refers to the vertical distance from the waterline to the bottom of the keel when a vessel is in water. It is a key parameter for measuring a ship's loading condition and navigational safety. In foreign trade and shipping, draft directly affects whether a vessel can safely pass through canals, port channels, and berths. For example, the Panama Canal has strict draft restrictions; exceeding the limit requires lightening or detouring. Use cases include: safe port warranties in charter parties, draft surveys during loading and discharging, freight calculation (e.g., calculating loaded quantity based on draft difference), and negotiation of port charges. Notes: Draft is affected by water temperature and density; seawater and freshwater drafts differ, and freshwater correction is usually required. When loading, sufficient Under Keel Clearance (UKC) must be reserved to prevent grounding. Difference from related terms: Draft differs from Freeboard (the distance from the waterline to the edge of the main deck) and from Load Line (a mark indicating the maximum permissible draft). Foreign trade practitioners should pay attention to draft clauses in contracts to avoid demurrage or breach of contract due to insufficient port water depth.
📝 Examples
1. When signing the charter party, the shipowner required the charterer to guarantee that the draft at the loading port would be no less than 12 meters; otherwise, the vessel could not enter the port fully loaded. (Note: Draft serves as a contractual guarantee clause and affects the vessel's loading capacity.)
2. According to the draft restriction at the discharge port, we need to reduce the cargo by 500 tons at the loading port to keep the vessel's draft within 10.5 meters. (Note: Draft directly determines the actual cargo quantity loaded and must match the port water depth.)
💡 Foreign Trade Tips
Foreign trade terms are the foundation of international business communication
Trade practices may vary slightly by country; pay attention when using them
When using terms in contracts, specify the applicable version (e.g., Incoterms 2020)
For unfamiliar terms, use GlobalSync's multilingual email helper to confirm with your partner