Question 2015 Deck Safety

The correct answer is B) center of flotation. The center of flotation is the geometric center of the waterplane area, which is the plane formed by the intersection of the water surface and the vessel's hull. This point represents the location where the buoyant forces acting on the vessel are concentrated, and it is an important reference point for calculating vessel stability. The other options are incorrect because: A) The center of buoyancy is the geometric center of the volume of the submerged portion of the vessel, not the waterplane area. C) The center of gravity is the point where the weight of the vessel is concentrated, and it is not the same as the center of flotation. D) The metacenter is the point where the line of action of the buoyant force intersects the vessel's centerline, and it is a different concept from the center of flotation.