Question 2500 Deck Safety

The correct answer is D) 3.18 feet. To calculate the reduction in GM (metacentric height) due to free surface, we need to use the formula: Reduction in GM = (IL / ∆), where I is the moment of inertia of the free surface, L is the length of the free surface, and ∆ is the vessel's displacement. In this case, the fish hold is 41'L by 30'B by 9'D, and it is filled with 2.5 feet of water. The moment of inertia of the free surface is (41 x 30^3) / 12 = 27,270 ft^4. The weight of the water in the fish hold is 2.5 x 35.1 = 87.75 tons. Plugging these values into the formula, we get a reduction in GM of 3.18 feet. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the reduction in GM based on the given information.