Question 1745 Deck Safety

The correct answer is B) rolling period. The rolling period is the time required for a vessel to incline from port to starboard and back to port again. This is a characteristic of the vessel's stability and is a direct indicator of the vessel's initial stability. The rolling period is affected by factors such as the vessel's displacement, metacentric height, and the distribution of weight onboard. The other answer choices are incorrect: A) range of stability refers to the range of angles through which a vessel can roll without capsizing. C) inclining moment is the force that causes the vessel to incline or roll. D) initial stability refers to the vessel's ability to resist an initial inclination.