If you hear a vessel ahead sound two prolonged blasts in fog, what should you do?

If you hear a vessel ahead sound two prolonged blasts in fog, what should you do?

• A. Alter course to starboard.
• B. Sound only fog signals until the other vessel is sighted.
• C. Stop engines immediately.
• D. Sound one prolonged blast every two minutes.

Answer: (B)

In fog, you rely on sound signals to communicate your presence and intentions. When you hear a vessel ahead sound two prolonged blasts, it indicates that vessel is signaling in fog and may not be able to determine your position or actions. The proper response is to maintain contact through your own fog signals and continue to proceed cautiously until you can sight the other vessel. Using fog signals keeps you visible to them and avoids assuming their exact maneuver without visual confirmation. You shouldn’t suddenly alter course or stop engines just from hearing those signals; you should keep signaling and monitor for sighting, then take appropriate action once you know the other vessel’s position and intent. Other options, like changing course or stopping immediately, don’t align with the standard practice of using fog signals to communicate while visibility is restricted, and one prolonged blast every two minutes doesn’t provide the ongoing signaling needed in fog.

In fog, you rely on sound signals to communicate your presence and intentions. When you hear a vessel ahead sound two prolonged blasts, it indicates that vessel is signaling in fog and may not be able to determine your position or actions. The proper response is to maintain contact through your own fog signals and continue to proceed cautiously until you can sight the other vessel. Using fog signals keeps you visible to them and avoids assuming their exact maneuver without visual confirmation. You shouldn’t suddenly alter course or stop engines just from hearing those signals; you should keep signaling and monitor for sighting, then take appropriate action once you know the other vessel’s position and intent. Other options, like changing course or stopping immediately, don’t align with the standard practice of using fog signals to communicate while visibility is restricted, and one prolonged blast every two minutes doesn’t provide the ongoing signaling needed in fog.