Question 3371 Deck General

The correct answer is A) soft to firm clays. Soft to firm clays can have sufficient cohesive strength to allow the vessel's hull to penetrate to depths where the pullout forces required exceed the buoyancy of the hull. This can occur because clays have a high water content and low shear strength, which can allow the hull to become embedded. In contrast, soft mud, silt, and sand typically do not have enough cohesive strength to create this situation, so they would not be the correct answer. The depth of hull penetration and the required pullout forces are important considerations for vessel operations and stability, which are covered in the US Coast Guard Captain's License Examinations.