Question 149Safety & Environmental - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is D) movement of the center of buoyancy toward the low side of the vessel. When a vessel is inclined, the center of buoyancy (CB) shifts to the low side of the vessel, creating a righting moment that tends to return the vessel to its original upright position. This righting moment is caused by the vertical separation between the vessel's center of gravity (CG) and the shifted center of buoyancy, which generates a stabilizing force that opposes the inclined position. The other options are incorrect because: A) the center of flotation does not directly influence the vessel's stability, B) the movement of the center of gravity can affect stability but is not the primary factor in this scenario, and C) the free surface effect is a different stability consideration not directly related to the inclined vessel's tendency to return to its original position.