Question 2013 Deck Safety

The correct answer is A) metacenter. In the presence of external forces, the center of buoyancy of an inclined vessel is vertically aligned with the metacenter. The metacenter is the point where the line of action of the buoyant force intersects the vessel's centerline when the vessel is inclined. This alignment is a fundamental principle in the stability of floating vessels, as it determines the vessel's tendency to return to an upright position after being displaced. The other options are incorrect because the center of flotation is the point about which the waterplane area rotates, the center of gravity is the point where the weight of the vessel is concentrated, and the keel is the bottom-most structural member of the vessel. None of these directly correspond to the alignment of the center of buoyancy in an inclined vessel.