The COASTAL DRILLER, in transit with winds less than 70 knots, has a draft of 10 feet 8 inches. The VM are 541,257 ft-kips, FSML are 32,000 ft-kips, and FSMT are 24,000 ft-kips. The margin on the maximum allowable KG is __________.

Correct Answer: Option C — 23.7 feet

Evaluating maximum allowable KG limits involves subtracting total vertical moments, adjusted for free surface effects, from tabular allowable limits. For the given parameters, standard calculations yield a substantial positive stability margin of 23.7 feet above the actual operational KG.