Question 589 Deck General

The correct answer is B) 565 tons. To arrive at this answer, we need to consider the bale capacity of the lower hold, the stowage factor of the cotton bales, and the broken stowage factor. The bale capacity of the lower hold is 60,000 cubic feet. The stowage factor of the cotton bales is 85 cubic feet per ton. Applying the broken stowage factor of 20%, the effective stowage factor becomes 85 / (1 - 0.20) = 106.25 cubic feet per ton. Dividing the bale capacity (60,000 cubic feet) by the effective stowage factor (106.25 cubic feet per ton) gives us the answer of 565 tons. The other options are incorrect because they do not properly account for the broken stowage factor, which reduces the effective stowage factor and increases the cargo capacity.