Question 5101 Deck General

You are correct that the answer is B) the drill string has broken. The sudden unexpected forward inclination of the DEEP DRILLER while drilling loaded is most likely caused by a failure or breakage of the drill string. A broken drill string would cause the drilling platform to suddenly shift forward due to the loss of the stabilizing force of the drill string extending down into the seabed. The other options are less likely causes. Failure of mooring lines would cause a different type of destabilization, dumping mud would not directly cause a forward inclination, and ballast tank equalization would not create such an abrupt change in the platform's attitude.