How can one avoid parametric rolling?

Reducing ship speed is an effective method for avoiding parametric rolling, which occurs when a vessel's roll period matches the wave period, leading to excessive rolling. By decreasing speed, the encounter frequency between the waves and the ship is altered, helping to break the resonance that causes parametric rolling. When the ship travels more slowly, it also experiences fewer wave impacts at optimal rolling frequencies, which helps maintain stability and prevents the ship from rolling uncontrollably.

Other options may have their merits in different contexts, but they do not directly affect the underlying conditions that lead to parametric rolling. For example, while adjusting ballast or cargo distribution can help with overall stability, these actions don't specifically address the phase relationship between the ship's rolling and the wave pattern that creates the resonance. Similarly, maintaining a straight course doesn't inherently prevent rolling; it’s the interaction with waves at certain speeds and frequencies that needs to be managed.