Question 174Safety & Environmental - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is B) survivors in the water. After abandoning a vessel, the primary concern is to locate and recover any survivors in the water. Posting lookouts aboard life rafts allows them to scan the surrounding area and identify any people who may have been separated from the main group during the evacuation. This increases the chances of rescuing all crew members and passengers. The other answer choices, while potentially relevant in other situations, are not the top priority immediately after abandoning the vessel.