On a vessel of 8,000 tons displacement, compute the reduction in metacentric height due to free surface in a hold having free water in the tank tops. The hold is 40 feet long and 20 feet wide. What is the reduction in metacentric height?

Correct Answer: Option A — 0.1 ft

Small tank dimensions drastically limit transverse liquid transfer. For a 40 ft by 20 ft hold on an 8,000-ton vessel, the low moment of inertia results in a minimal free surface reduction of 0.1 ft in metacentric height.