Question 2165 Deck Safety

The correct answer is A) A negative metacentric height should always be immediately corrected. A negative metacentric height indicates that the vessel is unstable and prone to capsizing. This condition must be addressed promptly by adjusting the distribution of weights on board to increase the metacentric height and restore stability. Leaving a negative metacentric height uncorrected will indeed lead to a vessel capsizing, but this is not an automatic outcome (ruling out B). While off-center weights can contribute to a negative metacentric height, this is not the only possible cause (ruling out C). Therefore, A is the correct answer, as it accurately states the necessity of immediately correcting a negative metacentric height to ensure the vessel's safety.