Center of buoyancy (B)

The center of buoyancy B is the centroid of the underwater volume of the hull, the point through which the total buoyant force acts vertically upward. Its position is found by integrating the displaced volume: longitudinally it gives LCB, vertically KB or VCB. In equilibrium B lies on the same vertical line as the center of gravity G. When the ship heels, B moves toward the immersed side because the underwater shape changes, and the locus of B generates the metacenter M, with BM equal to the waterplane moment of inertia divided by displaced volume (BM = I / V). The shift of B is the source of the righting arm.