Question 4123 Deck General

The correct answer is D) Squatting. As a ship's speed increases past its "critical speed", the shallow water effect known as squatting will increase dramatically. Squatting refers to the phenomenon where a ship's bow and stern sink deeper into the water as the ship's speed increases in shallow water, effectively reducing the clearance between the ship's keel and the seafloor. This is caused by the increased water displacement and changes in pressure distribution around the ship's hull at higher speeds in shallow conditions. The other answer choices are incorrect - sinkage (A) is a related but broader term, smelling the bottom (B) is not a recognized shallow water effect, and bank cushion (C) refers to a different phenomenon.