Your ship has loaded 8,000 barrels of gasoline at a cargo temperature of 85°F, departing Aruba bound for New Jersey. API gravity is 55°. The volume correction factor (VCF) is .0006. How many barrels would you expect to unload if the cargo temperature is 50°F at the discharge port?

Correct Answer: Option B — 7,832

The cargo cools by 35°F (85°F to 50°F), causing thermal contraction. The volume reduction is calculated as: 8,000 barrels × 35°F × 0.0006 (VCF) = 168 barrels. Subtracting this shrinkage from the loaded volume yields an expected discharge volume of 7,832 barrels.