Question 5017 Deck General

The correct answer is D) the draft at the center of flotation. For a floating MODU (Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit), the true mean draft is the draft at the center of flotation, not the draft corresponding to the calculated displacement (A), the mean of the calculated drafts (B), or the average of the observed drafts (C). This is because the true mean draft is the average draft along the length of the vessel, which is measured at the center of flotation, where the buoyancy forces act. The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately represent the true mean draft of a floating MODU, which is the critical parameter for determining the vessel's stability and other important characteristics.