A term used to describe a line drawn parallel to the moulded base line and at a certain height above it, as the 10-foot water line. It represents a plane parallel to the surface of the water when the vessel is floating on an even keel, i.e., without trim. In the body plan and the sheer plan it is a straight line, but in the plan view of the lines it shows the contour of the hull line at the given distance above the base line. Used also to describe the line of intersection of the surface of the water with the hull of the ship at any draft and any condition of trim.
Ligama elisetyenziswa xa kuchazwa umgca owenziwe ngokunxusayo kumgca osezantsi oxhonxiweyo waphezu kwawo, kumlinganiselo ongaba ziinyawo ezilishumi zomgca wamanzi. Ilingana nomgama wenqwelo-ntaka xa isesibhakabhakeni, sinjalo nesiseko senqanawe xa ihamba phezu kwamanzi. Ingumgca othe ngqo ngokwesakhiwo esipheleleyo nangesiqu, kodwa ngokwembonakalo yemigca wekhonto okude kakhulu kungumgamawomgca osezantsi. Kwakhona ligama elisetyenziswa ekuchazeni ukudibana komphezulu wamanzi nobude benqanawe kulo naliphi na uyilo nayo nayiphi na imeko yokusuka kwenqanawe amanzi.