Which term describes the ability of a vessel to return to an upright position after being healed over?

Which term describes the ability of a vessel to return to an upright position after being healed over?

• A. Stability
• B. Displacement
• C. Buoyancy
• D. Draft

Answer: (A)

Stability describes a vessel’s ability to return to an upright position after heeling. When the hull tilts, the submerged shape shifts so the buoyant force moves to the low side, creating a restoring righting moment that tends to bring the ship back upright. If the metacenter sits above the center of gravity, this righting moment is positive, and a larger metacentric height means a stronger, quicker return to upright. Displacement, buoyancy, and draft are related concepts—weight of water displaced, upward buoyant force, and how deep the hull sits in the water—but none of them by itself define the vessel’s tendency to right itself after heel.

Stability describes a vessel’s ability to return to an upright position after heeling. When the hull tilts, the submerged shape shifts so the buoyant force moves to the low side, creating a restoring righting moment that tends to bring the ship back upright. If the metacenter sits above the center of gravity, this righting moment is positive, and a larger metacentric height means a stronger, quicker return to upright. Displacement, buoyancy, and draft are related concepts—weight of water displaced, upward buoyant force, and how deep the hull sits in the water—but none of them by itself define the vessel’s tendency to right itself after heel.