The SS AMERICAN MARINER is ready to bunker with drafts of FWD 14'-04", AFT 18'-08". After all bunkers are on board, soundings indicate the tonnages shown in table ST-0173 below. Use the white pages of The Stability Data Reference Book to determine the free surface correction.

Correct Answer: Option A — 1.05 feet

Determining the FSC requires identifying the free surface moments (FSM) for all slack tanks based on the provided sounding tables. Summing these moments and dividing by the vessel's displacement at the given draft provides the correction. For this specific loading condition, the calculation results in 1.05 feet.