Question 2060 Deck Safety

The correct answer is B) center of gravity. When a tank is partially full, the position of the center of gravity of the vessel is shifted upwards, as the weight of the liquid in the tank is now distributed higher in the vessel. This shift in the center of gravity affects the vessel's stability and must be accounted for in the stability calculations. The other options are incorrect because: A) The center of flotation is the point at which the vessel's weight appears to be concentrated and is not affected by a partially full tank. C) The metacenter is the intersection of the vessel's centerline and the line of action of the buoyant force, which also does not change due to a partially full tank. D) The center of buoyancy is the point at which the buoyant force appears to act, and it is not directly affected by a partially full tank.