The DEEP DRILLER is loaded as shown in the Sample Load form #3 (Preparing to Drill). If the liquid mud in mud pit #4 (see table 8) is dumped, what would be the new metacentric height corrected for longitudinal free surface effects?

Correct Answer: Option C — 7.59 feet

Longitudinal stability assessment requires subtracting the longitudinal center of gravity from the longitudinal metacenter, factoring in longitudinal free surface effects. Discharging mud pit #4 modifies these variables, producing a resulting longitudinal metacentric height corrected for free surface of 7.59 feet.