Question 99Safety & Environmental - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is D) draft. The draft of a vessel refers to the distance between the bottom of the hull and the waterline. This is a critical measurement for a vessel, as it determines how deeply the ship sits in the water and is an important factor in navigating waterways with limited depth. The draft is used to calculate the displacement of the vessel and ensure it can safely operate without running aground. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not directly refer to the measurement between the hull and waterline. Tonnage is a measure of a vessel's size, freeboard is the distance between the waterline and the main deck, and reserve buoyancy is the additional buoyant force a vessel has above its displacement.