Question 60 TV02 - Towing Vessels - Great Lakes and Inland

The Correct Answer is A Work vests are specialized pieces of gear that are designed to protect workers on deck and offer buoyancy assistance. However, they are **not** considered regulatory lifesaving equipment (like approved life preservers) and cannot be confused with or substitute for the required approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) mandated by the Coast Guard. To prevent unauthorized substitution or confusion during emergencies, federal regulations (specifically 46 CFR 180.80(c)) mandate that work vests must be marked as "WORK VEST, NOT AN APPROVED PFD" and **stored separately** from the approved life preservers or PFDs. **Why Other Options Are Incorrect:** * **B) They may be worn during drills.** While they can be worn at any time by crew members working on deck, regulations usually require personnel to use the *approved* lifesaving equipment (life preservers/PFDs) during regulatory drills to ensure the crew is familiar with the emergency equipment. * **C) They may be substituted for up to 10% of the required lifesaving gear aboard.** This is strictly incorrect. Work vests are supplementary equipment and cannot be substituted for *any* required lifesaving gear, as they are not approved personal flotation devices. * **D) They need not be of an approved type.** This is incorrect. Work vests, while not approved PFDs, must still meet specific Coast Guard regulatory standards (46 CFR 180.80) to be permitted for use on board. They must be Type V devices approved for work vest usage.