The liquid mud tanks on your vessel measure 24'L by 16'B by 8'D. The vessel's displacement in fresh water is 864 tons and the specific gravity of the mud is 1.47. What is the reduction in GM due to 2 of these tanks being slack?

Correct Answer: Option B — .80 foot

Transverse metacentric height ($GM = KM - KG$) governs initial stability. A positive $GM$ produces an uprighting righting moment ($GZ = GM \sin\theta$). Option B ('.80 foot') correctly applies this principle.