Question 3988 Deck General

The correct answer is D) the stern is drawn to the bank as the bow sheers off. This is because of the hydrodynamic interaction between the vessel and the bank or channel edge. As the vessel approaches the bank, the water flow along the hull is disrupted, causing the bow to sheer off to the side. This in turn causes the stern to be drawn toward the bank, as the vessel's center of lateral resistance shifts away from the bank. This effect is known as bank suction or bank cushion. The other answer choices are incorrect because: A) the vessel does not simply continue in a straight line, but is affected by the bank; B) the bow sheering is a result of the vessel's interaction with the bank, not the cause; and C) the vessel is not drawn bodily into the bank, but rather experiences the stern being drawn toward it.