While steaming at 19.5 knots, your vessel burns 297 bbls of fuel per day. What will be the rate of fuel consumption if you decrease speed to 15 knots?

Correct Answer: Option A — 135 bbls

Fuel consumption varies with the cube of the speed. Using the formula F2 = F1 * (S2/S1)^3, where F1 is 297, S1 is 19.5, and S2 is 15, the calculation (297 * (15/19.5)^3) results in a new consumption rate of approximately 135 barrels per day.