In reduced visibility, what sequence should sailing vessels emit?

In reduced visibility, what sequence should sailing vessels emit?

• A. One prolonged and two short
• B. Two short and one prolonged
• C. One short
• D. Three long

Answer: (A)

In reduced visibility, ships rely on sound signals to indicate their presence and type so others can respond safely. For a sailing vessel, the standard signal is one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. This distinctive pattern is easy to hear through fog and clearly identifies the vessel as under sail, which helps nearby vessels judge how it might maneuver and how to avoid a collision. The other sequences don’t carry the same, specific identification or are used in different situations, so they aren’t the correct pattern for a sailing vessel in reduced visibility.

In reduced visibility, ships rely on sound signals to indicate their presence and type so others can respond safely. For a sailing vessel, the standard signal is one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. This distinctive pattern is easy to hear through fog and clearly identifies the vessel as under sail, which helps nearby vessels judge how it might maneuver and how to avoid a collision. The other sequences don’t carry the same, specific identification or are used in different situations, so they aren’t the correct pattern for a sailing vessel in reduced visibility.