Question 286Safety & Environmental - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is B) Fore and aft shift of G. A vessel will trim when there is a shift in the center of gravity (G) in the fore-and-aft direction. This change in the longitudinal position of G creates a trimming moment that causes the vessel to rotate around its transverse axis, resulting in a change in the fore-and-aft draft. The other options are incorrect because: A) Off-center weight will cause the vessel to list, not trim. C) The combination of off-center weight and negative GM can cause both listing and trimming, but is not the primary cause of trimming. D) Negative GM alone will not cause trimming, but rather a change in the vessel's stability.