TM 55-607/NAVSEA OP 3221 Rev 2
(2) Lighters should be checked to determine if there is any leakage ill the void spaces of the double hull, since
any water taken on by the lighter will result ill a decrease in the maximum amount of cargo weight that can be stowed. A
fully loaded lighter with water in its void spaces could easily exceed the capacity of the ship's gantry crane. lb determine
accurately if any water is present in the void spaces, soundings may be taken through plugs on opposite corners of the
lighter. Care should be taken to keep the sounding plugs tightly in place.
b. Inspection Policies. Inspection requirements for LASH lighters are identical to those for merchant-type ships,
except that each lighter is considered to be a separate compartment and must be signed off individually by authorized
loading personnel, inspectors, and shipping line representatives.
c. Stowage Patterns. A preliminary stowage plan based on the compatibility of the classes of explosives
comprising the cargo, the load weight, and the dimensions of the individual unit loads is developed for each lighter. A
typical preplan is illustrated in figure 10-3. In order to utilize the rectangular stowage area of the lighter efficiently, cargo
should be block stowed. Because of the relatively narrow width of a LASII lighter, maximum space utilization may
require rectangular unit loads to be oriented in different directions. In this case, the proper positioning of the loads is
reflected by the preplan, as shown in figure 10-3. The final stow plan, as shown in figure 10-4, need not reflect actual
orientation of unit loads; however, the commodity description, number of pieces, tonnage, and port sequence are entered
as shown. Voids within the cargo stow will be caused by cargo sizes that are not even multiples of the lighter's interior
dimensions or by the stacking posts and access ladders that extend into the cargo area. The different techniques of
shoring these voids differentiate the types of block stow that may be used in loading LASH lighters.
Figure 10-3. Preplan for LASH lighter.
10-5
