Question 441 Deck Safety

The correct answer is C) remain in the vicinity of the sinking vessel. When abandoning a sinking ship, the main priority is to remain close to the last known location of the vessel. This allows rescue teams to more easily locate the life raft and provides the best chance of being found. Heading towards sea lanes or land may seem logical, but could take the life raft far from the original location, making rescue more difficult. Seeking a group consensus is less important than staying put. The Coast Guard regulations emphasize remaining near the sinking vessel as the primary course of action in a life raft emergency.