Question 1699 Deck General

The correct answer is A) so that it will float free if the vessel sinks. The reason this is the correct answer is that Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) on Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs) must be stowed in a manner that allows them to float free and activate automatically if the vessel sinks. This is a regulatory requirement to ensure the EPIRB can properly function as an emergency distress signal and aid in search and rescue efforts. The other answer choices are incorrect because: B) while the EPIRB must be in an approved bracket, this alone does not meet the requirement for it to float free; C) storing the EPIRB in an inside passageway does not allow it to float free; and D) the EPIRB location does not need to be accessible from the pilothouse, as its purpose is to float free and activate automatically if the vessel sinks.