Question 332Safety & Environmental - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is A) A negative GM. An angle of loll is commonly caused by a negative metacentric height (GM), which results in an unstable equilibrium. When the GM is negative, the ship's center of gravity (G) is above the metacenter (M), causing the ship to list or "loll" to one side. This unstable condition can lead to the ship capsizing if not addressed. The other options are incorrect because: B) An off-center weight can cause a list, but not necessarily an angle of loll; C) Free surface effect can reduce the GM, but a negative GM is still required for an angle of loll; and D) High external forces like wind and current can cause a list, but do not directly lead to an angle of loll.