Question 2010 Deck Safety

The correct answer is D) about which the vessel lists and trims. The center of flotation is the point in the waterplane about which a vessel lists and trims when external forces are applied. This is because the center of flotation is the point where the buoyant forces act, and any change in the position of this point will cause the vessel to list or trim accordingly. The other options are incorrect because: A) The vertical center of buoyancy (VCB) is a different property, representing the vertical position of the center of buoyancy. B) The center of gravity is a different point than the center of flotation, and they do not necessarily coincide. C) The center of flotation is not the same as the center of buoyancy, which is the centroid of the submerged volume of the vessel.