Your vessel displaces 645 tons and measures 132'L by 34'B. What is the reduction in GM due to free surface if the fish hold (30'L by 26'B by 8'D) is filled with 3.0 feet of water? (Each foot of water weighs 22.3 tons)

Correct Answer: Option A — 1.76 feet

The virtual rise of the center of gravity caused by unconfined liquid depends on the hold's breadth cubed and its length relative to displacement. For this configuration, the resulting free surface correction lowers the effective GM by 1.76 feet.