When carrying a full or nearly full load of bulk ore in a general cargo type vessel which has engine spaces amidships, the cargo in each hold should be trimmed so that the bulk of the cargo lies __________.

Correct Answer: Option B — Toward the after bulkhead of the forward holds and the forward bulkhead of the after holds

Trimming bulk ore toward the after bulkhead of forward holds and forward bulkhead of after holds distributes weight evenly around amidships engine spaces, preventing excessive hull bending moments and undesirable extreme vessel trim.