For a vessel carrying timber deck cargo, what is the minimum Initial GM required?

The minimum Initial GM (metacentric height) required for a vessel carrying timber deck cargo is 0.10 meters. This requirement is based on ensuring adequate stability for the specific characteristics of the cargo being transported. Timber deck cargo has a high center of gravity, which can significantly affect a vessel's stability due to the weight distribution.

Having a minimum Initial GM of 0.10 meters helps secure sufficient righting leverage and ensures the vessel can effectively recover from tilting angles caused by external forces, such as wind and waves or shifting cargo. Ensuring this level of stability is particularly important when carrying substances that can be unstable or when the cargo is liable to shift during transit. The established minimum serves to mitigate risks of capsizing or excessive heel angles during navigation or when the vessel encounters adverse sea conditions.

The other options suggest values that do not meet the regulatory and safety standards set for the transportation of timber deck cargo, which reinforces the importance of maintaining a minimum GM to ensure the vessel's overall stability and safety.