righting arm

The righting arm is a concept in ship stability that measures how effectively a vessel can return to an upright position after tilting. Imagine a ship leaning to one side; the righting arm is the horizontal distance between the center of gravity (the ship’s weight center) and the center of buoyancy (the underwater shape when tilted). The longer this arm, the greater the force that pushes the ship back to upright, enhancing stability. In essence, the righting arm indicates how strongly a ship’s design helps it recover from tilting, contributing to safety and seaworthiness.