As most ships are nearly wall-sided (i.e. perpendicular) above the waterline, the freeboard gives an approximate measure of the reserve of buoyancy.
Njengokuba iinqanawa ezininzi ziphantse zaludonga emacaleni (ukutsho oko ngokuthe ngqo) ngaphezu komgca wamanzi, ibhodi ekhululekileyo inika. umlinganiselo ochanekileyowogcino lomqondiso odadayo.