Question 2196 Deck Safety

The correct answer is B) stability at large angles of inclination. The amount of freeboard, which is the distance between the waterline and the main deck, has a direct impact on a ship's stability at large angles of inclination. Greater freeboard increases the ship's stability and resistance to capsizing at larger angles of heel or tilt. This is because the increased freeboard raises the center of gravity of the ship, making it more difficult to overturn. The other options are incorrect because they do not directly relate to the effect of freeboard. Permeability (A) is a measure of the ease with which water can pass through a material, free surface (C) refers to the effect of liquids sloshing in a tank, and initial stability (D) is the ship's resistance to small angles of heel, which is not the focus of the question.