🔍 Key Concepts
• Trim is the difference between forward and aft drafts
• The relationship between change in trim and change in draft at one end depends on how many ends are moving (one or both)
• For small trims, the change of draft at an end is usually a fraction of the total trim
💭 Think About
• If the vessel trims by the head 2.0 feet, does the entire 2.0 feet appear at the forward draft marks, or is it shared between forward and aft?
• Think about what happens to the aft draft when the vessel trims by the head – does it increase, decrease, or stay the same?
• If both ends move, what fractional part of the total trim would you expect at each end in a simple case?
✅ Before You Answer
• Confirm whether, in this basic exam question, trim is assumed to be taken up symmetrically about midships
• Check if the problem is asking specifically for the change at the forward draft marks, not the mean draft change
• Verify that the change at one end should be a simple fraction of the total change of trim (e.g., one-half, one-third, etc.), then match that to the nearest choice