If your vessel enters fog and you stop your engines, dead in the water, which fog signal should you sound?

If your vessel enters fog and you stop your engines, dead in the water, which fog signal should you sound?

• A. One prolonged blast.
• B. Two prolonged blasts every two minutes.
• C. Five short blasts.
• D. One short blast.

Answer: (B)

In fog, ships use whistle signals to communicate status and prevent collisions. A vessel that is dead in the water (not making way) should broadcast its status with two prolonged blasts, repeated at intervals not exceeding two minutes. That specific pattern clearly tells other vessels that you are stationary and not maneuvering, so they know to adjust their actions accordingly and give you space. Other signals have different meanings and could mislead others about your situation. A single prolonged blast is a general warning signal, five short blasts is a danger or distress signal, and a single short blast doesn’t convey the stationary status you’re in. So the two long blasts every two minutes is the unambiguous, standardized way to indicate you’re not moving in restricted visibility.

In fog, ships use whistle signals to communicate status and prevent collisions. A vessel that is dead in the water (not making way) should broadcast its status with two prolonged blasts, repeated at intervals not exceeding two minutes. That specific pattern clearly tells other vessels that you are stationary and not maneuvering, so they know to adjust their actions accordingly and give you space.

Other signals have different meanings and could mislead others about your situation. A single prolonged blast is a general warning signal, five short blasts is a danger or distress signal, and a single short blast doesn’t convey the stationary status you’re in. So the two long blasts every two minutes is the unambiguous, standardized way to indicate you’re not moving in restricted visibility.