How does a ship’s center of buoyancy change when the ship heels?

When a ship heels (tilts), its centre of buoyancy—the geometric center of the displaced water—shifts position because the underwater shape of the hull changes.1

As the vessel tilts, one side of the hull displaces more water than the other, causing the centre of buoyancy to move away from its original position on the ship's centerline. Despite this movement, the centre of buoyancy remains directly below the metacentre, a theoretical point defined by the intersection of the vertical lines passing through the original and new centers of buoyancy.1

This shift is fundamental to static stability. If the metacentre remains above the ship's centre of gravity, the resulting forces create a righting moment that helps return the ship to an upright position. Conversely, if the metacentre falls below the centre of gravity, the ship becomes unstable and risks capsizing.12