On a vessel of 10,000 tons displacement, compute the reduction in metacentric height due to free surface in a hold having free water on the tank top. The hold is 40 feet long and 50 feet wide. What is the reduction in metacentric height?

Correct Answer: Option B — 1.2 feet

Applying the free surface formula FSC = (l × b³) / (12 × Displacement) with a hold length of 40 feet, breadth of 50 feet, and a displacement of 10,000 tons results in an effective loss of initial stability (GM reduction) equal to 1.2 feet.