Question 43 UFV01 - Master - Uninspected Fishing Vessels

The Correct Answer is A **Explanation of Option A (Correct):** Option A states, "Manual sounding of the bell and gong must always be possible." This statement is **TRUE** under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), Rule 33 (Equipment for Sound Signals). Specifically, Rule 33(b) addresses bells and gongs: "Any required equipment for sound signals shall be positioned as to give maximum practical performance and shall be operated in such manner as to prevent the sound being unduly obstructed. The bell or gong or both shall be manually operable." This requirement ensures that even if power fails or automatic signaling equipment malfunctions, the vessel can still produce the required manual sound signals. **Explanation of Other Options (Incorrect):** **B) A vessel of less than 12 meters in length need not have any sound signaling equipment.** This is incorrect. COLREGS Rule 33(a) requires vessels 12 meters or more in length to carry a whistle and a bell. However, Rule 33(c) states that a vessel of **less than 12 meters** in length shall not be obliged to carry the sound signaling appliances prescribed, *but if she does not*, she must be provided with some other means of making an efficient sound signal. Therefore, they are always required to have *some* means of making an efficient sound signal, making the statement that they "need not have any" equipment false. **C) Any vessel over 12 meters in length must be provided with a gong.** This is incorrect. Under COLREGS Rule 33(a): * Vessels 12 meters or more must have a whistle. * Vessels 20 meters or more must have a bell *in addition* to the whistle. * Vessels 100 meters or more must have a gong *in addition* to the whistle and bell. Therefore, a vessel between 12 and 99.9 meters is not required to carry a gong. **D) Automatic sounding of the signals is not permitted.** This is incorrect. COLREGS Rule 35 (Sound Signals in Restricted Visibility) permits the use of an automatic signaling device (such as a fog signal timer or controller) to sound the required signals, provided that manual override is readily available, and the equipment complies with certain technical specifications (Annex III). As long as manual operation is possible (as confirmed by the correct Option A), automatic sounding is generally permitted.