Question 131Safety & Environmental - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is C) the geometric center of the displaced volume. In the absence of external forces, the center of gravity of a floating vessel is located directly above the geometric center of the displaced volume. This is because the buoyant force acts upwards through the geometric center of the displaced volume, and in equilibrium, the weight of the vessel acts downwards through the center of gravity. Therefore, the center of gravity must be located directly above the geometric center of the displaced volume. The other options are incorrect because: A) the center of flotation is the point at which the waterplane intersects the hull, not the location of the center of gravity; B) amidships refers to the midpoint of the vessel's length, not the center of gravity; and D) the metacenter is the point at which the buoyant force acts, not the location of the center of gravity.