Which risk increases when prolonged operation of a 18th-century wooden sailing ship occurs in tropical waters?

💡 Explanation

When ships continuously operate in tropical waters, the risk of teredo worm infestation increases because these marine borers thrive in warm, saltwater environments, weakening the wooden hull. Therefore hull failure increases, rather than sail degradation, mast weakening, or rudder jamming because these are related to different mechanisms.

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