Question 40Safety & Environmental - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is C) apply a patch of sheet packing backed by a strong back or shoring. This is the correct answer because applying a patch of sheet packing backed by a strong back or shoring is an accepted temporary method to seal a crack in a vessel's hull. This approach allows the crack to be sealed without permanent modifications to the hull, which is important when dealing with an emergency situation at sea. The other options are not recommended for temporarily sealing a hull crack. Drilling holes at each end (option A) could further damage the hull, while welding braces (option B) or tack welding a doubler plate (option D) would require more permanent modifications that may not be feasible in an emergency.