Question 1379 Deck Safety

The correct answer is B) longer than the rowing oars. The length of the steering oar in a lifeboat is typically longer than the rowing oars to provide the coxswain (person in charge of the boat) with greater leverage and control over the boat's direction. This longer length gives the coxswain more mechanical advantage and allows for more precise steering, which is essential for safely maneuvering the lifeboat in emergency situations. The other options are incorrect because the length of the steering oar is not the same as the rowing oars (A), not shorter than the rowing oars (C), and the length is in fact related to the rowing oars for the reasons stated above (D).