Question 2147 Deck Safety

The correct answer is B) Unstable. When the height of the metacenter (the point at which the buoyant force acts) is less than the height of the center of gravity, the vessel has an unstable equilibrium. This means that if the vessel is displaced from its upright position, the restoring force will not act to return the vessel to its original position, but instead will cause the vessel to capsize. The other options are incorrect because: A) Stable is the opposite condition, where the metacenter is above the center of gravity; C) Neutral refers to a situation where the metacenter and center of gravity are at the same height; and D) Positive is not a recognized term for vessel stability.