snrdg121408 said:
Mass displacement is not the same as volume displacement as far as I can tell.
It is exactly the same thing expressed in two ways. The basic principle is that one tonne of object displaces one tonne of fluid (with a known volume).
Displacement creates a connection between mass and volume, for liquid hydrogen that is 1 tonne displaces about 14 m³.
Mass displacement expresses that in mass: A ship displaces 1 tonne of liquid hydrogen (hence a volume of ~14 m³).
Volume displacement expresses that in volume: A ship displaces 14 m³ (hence a mass of 1 tonne of liquid hydrogen).
Note that the mass of the ship does not enter into those statements, only the mass of the displaced hydrogen.
Only if we actually find our ship trying to float on a sea of liquid hydrogen, do we have to consider the mass of the ship. Obviously the ship will sink...