Question 134Safety & Environmental - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is D) keel. The static water pressure on the hull of a ship is greatest at the keel because the keel is the lowest point of the submerged portion of the hull. According to the principles of hydrostatics, the deeper the depth, the greater the static water pressure. Since the keel is the deepest part of the submerged hull, it experiences the highest static water pressure. The other answer choices are incorrect because the bow, stern, and boot topping are not the deepest or lowest points of the submerged hull, and therefore do not experience the maximum static water pressure.