During a long ocean tow of a jack-up the clearance in the upper guide should be reduced to zero to restrain the leg and eliminate the impact loads from dynamic responses. This is best done by __________.

Correct Answer: Option A — tapering the upper guides and building up the teeth

Reducing upper guide clearance to zero on a jack-up leg eliminates destructive impact loads and fatigue caused by dynamic relative motion between the hull and legs during long ocean tows. Tapering guides and building up teeth achieves this tight mechanical restraint.