Question 59 GLI01 - Master-Unlimited Tonnage

The Correct Answer is D **Why Option D is Correct:** An anchor buoy (or sometimes a "foul-weather buoy" or "crown buoy") is traditionally a small, brightly colored float attached directly to the crown (the lower part) of the anchor by a light line called a buoy rope or tripping line. Its primary purpose is twofold: to mark the precise location of the anchor on the seabed, especially in crowded or poor visibility conditions, and to provide a means to haul the anchor out if the anchor chain (cable) becomes fouled or breaks (by "tripping" the anchor out by the crown). **Why the Other Options are Incorrect:** * **A) A black ball that is hoisted when the ship anchors:** A black ball is a day signal mandated by the COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea) to indicate that a vessel is **at anchor**. This signal is displayed on the vessel itself, not the anchor, and is a navigational signal, not a buoy attached to the ground tackle. * **B) A buoy attached to the scope of an anchor chain:** While a buoy could conceivably be attached to the scope (the length of chain deployed) under certain circumstances (like marking a stern anchor cable), the primary and standard definition of an *anchor buoy* involves it being attached directly to the anchor itself (the crown) to mark the specific resting place of the holding device. * **C) A mark of the number of fathoms in an anchor chain:** Marks indicating the length of chain deployed (e.g., painted links or specialized markers) are placed directly on the anchor chain or cable, usually at specific intervals (like every 90 feet or fathom shot), not on a separate external buoy.