Which of the following is NOT listed as a condition that can cause a ship to take on a permanent list?

• A. Weather deck trim in light seas
• B. Off Center weight
• C. Negative GM
• D. Combo of Off Center weight and Negative GM

Answer: (A)

A permanent list comes from a fixed imbalance in weight or stability, where the center of gravity is offset in a way that the buoyant forces cannot restore an upright position. Off-center weight creates a constant lateral moment around the centerline, so the ship remains heeled until that weight is moved or ballast is rebalanced. Negative GM means the metacenter lies below the center of gravity, making the vessel inherently unstable and prone to sustaining a list. If both conditions occur together, the tendency to list becomes even more pronounced and lasting.

Weather deck trim in light seas, on the other hand, is a temporary effect driven by current sea state and loading during those conditions. It isn’t a fixed, structural imbalance; as seas change or adjustments are made (ballast, cargo, or load distribution), the trim and any list can dissipate. That’s why it’s not considered a condition that causes a permanent list.