Question 2472 Deck Safety

The correct answer is C) .14 feet. The reduction in metacentric height due to free surface in a hold with free water on the tank tops can be calculated using the formula: GM_reduction = ρw * B^2 * L^2 / (12 * Δ * GM), where ρw is the density of water, B is the width of the hold, L is the length of the hold, and Δ is the vessel's displacement. Given the information provided - a vessel of 9,000 tons displacement, a hold that is 20 feet long and 30 feet wide - the calculation results in a reduction of 0.14 feet in the metacentric height, which makes C the correct answer. The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the calculated reduction in metacentric height based on the provided information.