You are loading in a port subject to the winter load line mark and bound for a port subject to the tropical load line mark. You will enter the summer zone after steaming four days, and you will enter the tropical zone after a total of twelve days. You will consume 31 tons of fuel, water, and stores per day. The hydrometer reading at the loading pier is 1.000, and the average TPI is 46. What is the minimum freeboard required at the start of the voyage? Reference Table BL-0013 below.

Question

Accepted Answer

Option A: 78 inches. Load line regulations under 46 CFR Subchapter E require calculating the permissible draft based on seasonal zones. By accounting for fuel consumption over the voyage duration and applying the TPI to adjust for density changes at the pier, the minimum freeboard ensures compliance with the vessel's assigned tropical load line mark.