🔍 Key Concepts

• What a bilge is and what typically collects there • Why mariners take soundings of the bilge • What specific information bilge soundings can and cannot tell you

💭 Think About

• Think about what you are actually measuring when you take a bilge sounding—what does the sounding rod or tape show you? • Ask yourself: can a single bilge sounding distinguish between different causes of water or liquid in the bilge, or only show you the result? • Consider which options describe direct information versus information that would require additional investigation or evidence.

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear that soundings measure the level of liquid in a space, not its exact source or type by themselves • Decide whether bilge soundings alone can positively identify condensation versus other water sources • Decide whether bilge soundings alone can positively identify a cargo leak or just that liquid is present