Question 246Safety & Environmental - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is C) loaded equally on both sides with more aft. When a survival craft is not loaded to full capacity, the personnel should be loaded equally on both sides with more weight placed towards the aft (rear) of the craft. This ensures the survival craft remains stable and balanced, preventing it from becoming top-heavy or listing to one side. Placing the personnel evenly across both sides and concentrated towards the rear helps maintain the proper trim and stability of the survival craft in the water. The other options are incorrect because: A) loading more on the port side forward would make the craft unstable and prone to listing; B) loading more forward would make the craft bow-heavy and unstable; and D) allowing people to sit anywhere would result in an unbalanced and potentially unsafe loading configuration.