On a grounded ship, what should you do to add ballast?

The action of putting holes in the side of the ship is not a viable solution for adding ballast and is indeed unsafe and counterproductive. To effectively add ballast on a grounded ship, the key focus is on maintaining stability and ensuring safety.

Taking on fresh water is a common and acceptable method to add ballast as it can adjust the ship's weight and improve stability without compromising the ship's integrity. Fuel can also be utilized for ballast since it adds weight while being a necessary part of the ship's operations. Adding cargo weight is another suitable way to enhance stability, as long as it is done within the limits of the ship's design and current loading conditions.

The other options not only contribute to potential safety hazards but also do not serve the fundamental purpose of managing the ship's stability and seaworthiness effectively. Proper ballast management is critical to ensure the ship remains upright and balanced, especially in situations where grounding might occur. Therefore, considering safe and established methods for adding ballast is essential in maritime operations.