What is one effect of increased heeling on vessel performance?

Increased heeling refers to the tilt or lean of a vessel due to wind, waves, or other forces acting on it. When a vessel heels significantly, it can lead to decreased buoyancy. This is because buoyancy is related to the underwater volume of the hull. As the vessel heels, the underwater area that is in contact with the water can change, and in extreme cases, less of the hull may be submerged. This can lead to a loss of effective buoyancy, causing the vessel to potentially sit lower in the water or, in extreme situations, risk capsizing. Hence, decreased buoyancy is a clear and direct consequence of increased heeling, impacting the vessel’s overall stability and seaworthiness.

The other options relate to aspects of performance that do not necessarily improve or become favorable with increased heeling. For instance, cargo handling and fuel efficiency can be negatively impacted when a vessel is not upright, and while vessels do have inherent stability characteristics, increased heeling typically reduces effective stability rather than enhancing it.