In illustration D033DG below, the lower seam of the strake indicated by the letter B is sometimes riveted. Why is this done?

Correct Answer: Option C — serve as a crack arrestor and prevent hull girder failure

Riveted crack arrestors historically interrupted continuous all-welded steel structures to prevent catastrophic brittle fracture propagation from propagating across the hull girder. Although largely superseded by modern high-toughness steels, this technique preserved structural safety under extreme bending loads.