Negative GM is listed as a condition that can cause what?

• A. A permanent list
• B. Increased mission duration
• C. Higher freeboard
• D. Greater stability

Answer: (A)

The key point is how metacentric height (GM) affects initial stability. When GM is negative, the metacenter lies below the center of gravity, so the restoring moment during a heel actually acts to increase the tilt rather than return the ship upright. This makes the vessel unstable and prone to developing and maintaining a list that cannot be readily righted—hence a permanent list. The other choices don’t reflect stability physics: mission duration isn’t dictated by GM, higher freeboard relates to deck height not stability, and negative GM does not mean greater stability—in fact it implies instability.