Question 2163 Deck Safety

The correct answer is C) should always be immediately corrected. A negative metacentric height indicates that the vessel's center of gravity is above its metacenter, making the vessel unstable and prone to capsizing. This condition should always be immediately corrected through proper ballasting, load distribution, or other measures to increase the metacentric height and ensure the vessel's stability. The other answer choices are incorrect. A negative metacentric height does not always cause a vessel to capsize (A), as the vessel may still have enough stability to remain upright. Additionally, a negative metacentric height can result from various factors, not just off-center weights (B). Finally, while a negative metacentric height should be addressed, it does not mean that all of the above statements are correct (D).