Legal Definitions - stiffening note

A stiffening note is a specialized permit used in maritime law. It is issued by customs authorities to the captain (or ship's master) of a vessel. This permit grants permission to load heavy materials or goods, often referred to as "ballast," onto the ship *before* all the existing cargo from its inbound journey has been completely unloaded. The primary purpose of a stiffening note is to ensure the ship maintains its stability and safety as it becomes lighter during the unloading process, preventing it from becoming top-heavy or unstable.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of a stiffening note:

• Imagine a large container ship arriving at a busy port, laden with thousands of tons of consumer electronics and manufactured goods. As cranes begin to offload containers from the upper decks, the ship's center of gravity naturally rises, making the vessel less stable. The captain, anticipating that the ship will become dangerously light and potentially unstable before all the cargo can be removed, especially if there are strong winds or harbor swells, applies for a stiffening note. This permit allows the crew to immediately begin loading heavy steel plates into the ship's lower holds as ballast, even while other cargo is still being actively offloaded from the higher decks. This simultaneous loading of ballast ensures the ship remains safe and stable throughout the entire unloading operation.

• Consider a bulk carrier that has arrived with a full load of grain. It is scheduled to discharge about two-thirds of its cargo at one port and then proceed to another port to offload the remainder. After a significant portion of the grain has been removed, the ship's master realizes that the remaining cargo is distributed in a way that makes the ship unstable for the upcoming short sea journey, particularly if rough weather is forecast. To address this, he obtains a stiffening note. This permit allows the immediate loading of several large, heavy industrial machinery components (which are outbound cargo for a different destination) into the now-empty holds. These heavy components serve as temporary ballast, stabilizing the vessel for its journey to the next unloading point, even though the original grain cargo has not been fully discharged.

• A massive oil tanker arrives at a refinery port to discharge its crude oil cargo. As millions of gallons of oil are pumped out, the ship becomes progressively lighter and its draft (how deep it sits in the water) decreases significantly. To maintain proper trim and stability, especially in a narrow, busy port channel where other vessel movements can create waves, the captain requests a stiffening note. This permit authorizes the crew to start pumping seawater into designated ballast tanks *simultaneously* with the final stages of crude oil discharge. This critical operation ensures the tanker remains stable, maintains a safe draft, and is properly balanced throughout the entire unloading process and in preparation for its empty voyage.