The liquid mud tanks on your vessel measure 40'L by 20'B by 8'D. The vessel's displacement is 996 T and the specific gravity of the mud is 1.7. What is the reduction in GM due to 2 of these tanks being slack?

Correct Answer: Option D — 2.54 feet

Transverse virtual rise of the center of gravity due to free surface depends on tank dimensions and fluid density. Applying the standard free surface formula FSM = (l × b^3 × SG) / 12 for two 40'x20'x8' mud tanks at 996 T displacement results in a 2.54-foot GM reduction.