LOA (vessel particular)

LOA, length overall, is the maximum length of a ship measured from the foremost point of the bow to the aftermost point of the stern, including any fixed projections such as a bulbous bow or a stern flange. It is the governing dimension for berth length, lock and canal admittance, dry-dock fit, and port length-based dues, which is why size classes like Kamsarmax (229 meters) and the old Panamax (294 meters) are set by an LOA limit. LOA differs from length between perpendiculars (LBP), the waterline-based length used in stability and tonnage calculations; LOA is always the larger figure and is the one a port captain checks first.