Draught meaning is?

• A. Distance between water line and lowest point of the hull
• B. Distance between water line and highest point of the hull
• C. Depth of water at port entry
• D. Maximum permissible vessel height

Answer: (A)

Draught is the vertical distance from the waterline down to the lowest point of the hull (the keel). This measurement shows how much water depth the vessel needs to float without touching the bottom, which is crucial for determining whether the ship can enter certain ports, canals, or shallow waters and how it will perform in tidal conditions. The other descriptions refer to different concepts: the distance to the highest point of the hull is the air draft, which matters for clearance under bridges; the depth of water at port entry is the bathymetric depth of the water, not the vessel’s own depth; and maximum permissible vessel height relates to overall height or air draft, not draught.