Question 1012 Rules of the Road

90% to pass

BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND While underway in fog, you hear a vessel sound four short blasts in succession. What does this signal indicate?

A A vessel fishing
B A sailboat on port tack
C A vessel being towed
D A pilot vessel on duty
AI Explanation

The correct answer is D) A pilot vessel on duty. The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) state that a pilot vessel on duty will sound four short blasts in succession to indicate its presence. This signal is used to alert other vessels in the area that a pilot vessel is operating and caution them to proceed with extra care. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not match the COLREGS requirement for a pilot vessel's sound signal. A vessel fishing, a sailboat on port tack, and a vessel being towed would each have different sound signals according to the COLREGS.

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Official Resources
USCG Navigation Rules (COLREGS) 33 CFR Navigation Rules USCG Navigation Center
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