Question 2200 Deck Safety

The correct answer is D) at small angles of inclination. Initial stability refers to the stability of a vessel at small angles of inclination, typically up to about 10-15 degrees. At these small angles, the righting arm (GZ) is directly proportional to the angle of heel, which means the vessel's ability to right itself is greatest at small angles. This is in contrast to later stages of stability, where the righting arm may increase or decrease as the angle of heel increases. The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the definition of initial stability. Option A refers to stability at the transit draft, which is not specific to the initial stability definition. Option B refers to stability when the righting arm is zero, which is a different stability concept. Option C refers to stability when loaded with a minimum deck load, which is not the defining characteristic of initial stability.