Question 330Safety & Environmental - 1st Asst/Chief

You are correct, the answer B is the most important factor contributing to free communication loss of stability. The distance from the vessel centerline to the centerline of the damaged compartment is the most important factor because it determines the righting moment, which is the force that acts to restore the vessel's upright position. When a compartment is damaged and has free communication with the sea, the water in that compartment will shift as the vessel rolls, causing a change in the vessel's center of gravity and a reduction in the righting moment. The depth of the damaged compartment (A), the breadth of the damaged compartment (C), and whether the opposite compartment is full or empty (D) are also factors, but they are less significant than the distance from the centerline to the damaged compartment.