Question 2140 Deck Safety

The correct answer is A) higher than the center of gravity. Stable equilibrium for a vessel occurs when the metacenter (the point where the buoyancy force acts) is higher than the center of gravity. This means that if the vessel is slightly heeled or rolled, the righting moment (the force that tries to return the vessel to an upright position) will be positive, causing the vessel to right itself. If the metacenter is below the center of gravity, the vessel will be in an unstable equilibrium, and any disturbance will cause it to capsize. The other options are incorrect because the position of the metacenter relative to the center of gravity is the key factor in determining the vessel's stability, not its position relative to the longitudinal centerline or amidships.