Scantling Length is is a a distance slightly less than the waterline length of a ship, and generally less than the overall length of a ship.
In the
ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels, it is defined as the distance on the summer load line from the fore side of the stem to the centerline of the rudder stock. Scantling length need not be less than 96%, nor more than 97% of the length of the summer load line.
Most other
classification societies use a similar definition of
scantling length to define the general length of a
ship. The
scantling length is used by
classification societies for all calculations where the
waterline length, overall length,
displacement length, etc is called for. Naval architects wishing to comply with class rules would also use the scantling length.
References
★
ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels, Part 3, Hull Construction and Equipment, Rule 3.1.1/3.1, 2007.