Question 214Safety & Environmental - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is B) buoyancy. The vertical upward support provided by the water in which a vessel floats is known as buoyancy. The point through which this buoyant force is assumed to act is called the center of buoyancy. This is the geometric center of the underwater volume of the vessel, and it is the point at which the total buoyant force can be considered to be applied. The other options are incorrect because: A) Effort is not the correct term for the vertical upward support provided by the water. C) Gravity is the force acting downward on the vessel, not the upward buoyant force. D) Flotation is a general term for the vessel's ability to float, not the specific point at which the buoyant force is applied.