What should be done to the sounding tape when transferring it between a fuel oil tank and a salt water ballast tank?

Correct Answer: Option D — You should never use the same tape to sound both ballast and fuel tanks

Cross-contamination between fuel oil and ballast tanks is strictly prohibited to prevent environmental pollution and maintain tank integrity. Using separate sounding tapes is a standard maritime safety practice to ensure that oil residues do not enter ballast systems, which could lead to illegal overboard discharges during deballasting operations.