Question 2286 Deck Safety

The correct answer is B) 12 tons. The key to solving this problem is understanding how the vessel's draft changes as cargo is loaded. Given that the vessel's draft increases by 1 inch for every 6 tons of cargo loaded, and the current drafts are FWD 6'-01" and AFT 6'-10", we can calculate the additional cargo that can be loaded while maintaining the same trim. The increase in draft from the 11 tons of deck cargo is 11 / 6 = 1.83 inches. To maintain the same trim, the vessel can load an additional 12 tons of cargo, which would increase the draft by another 12 / 6 = 2 inches, resulting in a new draft of FWD 6'-03" and AFT 7'-00". Therefore, the correct answer is B) 12 tons. The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately account for the relationship between cargo loading and draft changes.