You are fighting a fire in a watertight compartment using hoses and salt water. Stability may be reduced because of __________.

Correct Answer: Option D — increase in free surface which reduces the metacentric height

Accumulated firefighting water inside a damaged compartment creates a large free surface area. According to stability principles under 46 CFR, uncontained liquid shifting across the compartment lowers the effective metacentric height (GM), severely degrading vessel stability and increasing capsizing risk.