The prohibition against exceeding the load line draft may be considered temporarily not applicable when __________.

Correct Answer: Option C — bottom supported units are being raised or lowered to the sea bed

Bottom-supported units are exempt from load line draft restrictions during the specific, temporary operations of raising or lowering to the seabed. This exception recognizes that the unit must transition through various drafts to reach its operational state, provided these movements are conducted safely within the unit's design parameters.