Sea trial

Successful sea trials subsequently lead to a vessel's certification for commissioning and acceptance by its owner.

Sea trials are fairly standardized using technical bulletins published by ITTC, SNAME, BMT, regulatory agencies or the owners.

In a speed trial the vessel is ballasted or loaded to a predetermined draft and the propulsion machinery is set to the contracted maximum service setting, usually some percentage of the machinery's maximum continuous rating (ex: 90% MCR).

To test a crash stop, the vessel is ballasted or loaded to a predetermined draft and the propulsion machinery is set to the contracted maximum service setting, usually some percentage of the machinery's maximum continuous rating.

At this point the propulsion machinery is set to full-astern and the helm is put hard-over to either port or starboard.

The final time to stop (i.e.: ship speed is 0 knots) track line, drift (distance traveled perpendicular to the original course) and advance (distance traveled along the original course line) are all calculated.

The fuel flow, exhaust and cooling water temperatures and ship's speed are all recorded.