Coast Guard Exams
Question 124Navigation General70% to pass

Under the IALA cardinal system, a mark with a quick white light showing 6 flashes followed by one long flash indicates that the safest water is on the _______________.

AI Explanation
The correct answer is D) south side of the mark. Under the IALA cardinal system, a mark with a quick white light showing 6 flashes followed by one long flash indicates that the safest water is on the south side of the mark. This is because the IALA cardinal system uses the number and duration of flashes to indicate the direction of safe water, with a quick 6 flashes followed by a long flash signifying the southern cardinal mark. The other options are incorrect because a north cardinal mark would have 3 quick flashes, a west cardinal mark would have 9 quick flashes, and an east cardinal mark would have 3 quick flashes and one long flash.

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