What Is It Called When a Cruise Ship Is Tilting?

By Anna Duncan

Cruise ships are usually designed to remain level in the water, and the crew is trained in proper ship stability and operation. However, sometimes a ship can experience a severe tilt due to rough weather, improper loading of cargo, or an unexpected wave.

When this happens, it is referred to as “listing” or “heeling”.

A listing cruise ship can be caused by strong winds, high seas, or an imbalance in the weight distribution of the vessel. If the cruise ship becomes off balance due to improper loading of fuel or cargo, it may start to list over until the crew takes corrective measures. If a sudden gust of wind or an unusually large wave hits the side of the boat, it can also cause it to list sharply.

When a cruise ship lists too far, it can create an unsafe environment for passengers and crew onboard. The furniture and fixtures on board will start to move around and objects may start falling off shelves and counters.

Passengers could be thrown off balance by sudden movements and knocked down by moving objects. The captain must take immediate action when a listing occurs onboard in order to restore balance.

The captain will first use their training and experience to identify which direction the boat is listing in order to determine how best to correct it. They may try to reduce speed if possible or shift cargo around in order to redistribute its weight more evenly throughout the vessel.

If necessary they may even turn off power completely in order to stop any further movement.

Conclusion:

What Is It Called When a Cruise Ship Is Tilting? When a cruise ship tilts too far due to rough weather conditions, improper loading of cargo or an unexpected wave it is referred to as “listing” or “heeling”. The captain must take immediate action when this occurs in order restore balance and safety for passengers onboard.