Question 5091 Deck General

The correct answer is C) decrease in the GZ (righting arm). When a liftboat has a flooded leg, it causes the vessel to list, which results in a decrease in the righting arm (GZ). The righting arm is a measure of the vessel's ability to right itself and resist heeling or capsizing. A decrease in the GZ means the vessel has less stability and a reduced ability to return to an upright position, which is a dangerous condition. The other answer choices are incorrect because: A) An increase in the waterplane and metacentric height would actually increase the vessel's stability, not decrease it. B) A negative metacentric height (GM) would mean the vessel is in a state of instability, which is not the specific condition described in the question. D) A flooded leg would increase the chance of deck edge immersion, not decrease it.