🔍 Key Concepts

• Reserve buoyancy and what it means for how much flooding a ship can survive • Relationship between center of gravity and stability (GM), versus actual flooding capacity • What ballast does to displacement, draft, and freeboard

💭 Think About

• Think about which option directly affects how much of the ship’s hull remains above water and available to be flooded before sinking • Ask yourself: does changing the center of gravity actually change how much water the ship can take on, or just how it reacts (stability/rolling)? • Consider whether adding ballast increases or decreases the amount of extra buoyant volume you have in reserve

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on the definition of reserve buoyancy: it is related to the volume of watertight hull above the waterline • Distinguish between improving stability (how stiff or tender the ship is) and improving survivability after flooding (how much water you can take on before sinking) • For each choice, picture what happens to draft and freeboard and decide whether that gives you more or less room for additional flooding