🔍 Key Concepts

• Reserve buoyancy and what parts of the ship provide it • Difference between being awash and being submerged • What happens when all reserve buoyancy is lost versus just some compartments flooding

💭 Think About

• Think about which spaces above the waterline normally keep the vessel floating safely, and what it means if those spaces can no longer keep water out. • Consider whether a vessel can still float if the deck edge and openings are at or below the waterline with no dry enclosed volume left. • Ask yourself: if the ship has no extra buoyant volume left beyond what is already in the water, is there anything to stop it from going lower in the water?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on the definition of reserve buoyancy: enclosed watertight volume above the waterline. • Visualize the waterline rising as more compartments flood—what happens when it reaches the main deck and keeps going? • Check which option describes the vessel’s condition when there is no remaining watertight volume above the waterline.