Question 124Safety & Environmental - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is C) the loading of new cargo into a decanted slop tank as a procedure to minimize pollution. The term "load on top" refers to a procedure used on crude oil carriers to minimize pollution. When a cargo tank is emptied, a small amount of residual oil and water (known as "slops") remains in the tank. Instead of disposing of these slops, the "load on top" procedure allows new cargo to be loaded on top of the existing slops, which helps to reduce the amount of waste generated and minimize the environmental impact. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the purpose of the "load on top" procedure. Option A is about loading ballast, which is not the purpose of this procedure. Option B is about calculating ullage, which is a separate process. Option D is about calculating cargo expansion, which is also not the focus of the "load on top" procedure.