Question 45 MODU03 - Ballast Control Operator
You are in a lifeboat broadcasting a distress message. What information would be essential to your rescuers?
The Correct Answer is D **Explanation for D ("All of the above"):** For a distress message (like a Mayday call) to be effective, rescuers need a complete picture of the situation to locate the vessel, assess the required resources, and prioritize the response. * **A (Position):** Rescuers cannot find you without your exact position (latitude and longitude, or bearing and distance from a known landmark). This is the most critical piece of information for location. * **B (Number of persons aboard):** This informs rescuers of the scale of the emergency (how many people need immediate assistance or evacuation) and the resources required (life vests, medical teams, transport capacity). * **C (The nature of the distress):** This explains the emergency (e.g., "vessel taking on water," "fire aboard," "medical emergency"). This is essential for the rescue command to dispatch the appropriate vessels (e.g., a pump-equipped vessel for flooding, or a fire-fighting vessel) and medical personnel. Since all three pieces of information (Position, Persons Aboard, Nature of Distress) are mandatory components of a standard distress call and are essential for a successful rescue operation, "All of the above" is the correct choice. **Explanation for why other options (A, B, C) are incorrect:** While options A, B, and C contain essential information, none of them alone provides sufficient details for a complete and effective rescue response: * **A is incorrect alone:** Knowing only your position doesn't tell the rescuers why they are coming (fire, flooding, medical emergency) or how many people they need to save. * **B is incorrect alone:** Knowing only the number of people aboard doesn't tell rescuers where to find you or the nature of the danger threatening those people. * **C is incorrect alone:** Knowing only the nature of the distress (e.g., "we have a fire") doesn't help rescuers locate you or tell them how many people are at risk.
Pass Your Coast Guard Licensing Exams!
Study offline, track your progress, and simulate real exams with the Coast Guard Exams app