Which signal is used by a vessel to indicate that it is towing another vessel?

Which signal is used by a vessel to indicate that it is towing another vessel?

• A. One short blast followed by two short blasts.
• B. A vessel underway sounds one short blast.
• C. One prolonged blast followed by two short blasts.
• D. One prolonged blast.

Answer: (C)

When a vessel is towing another vessel, there is a specific sound signal that identifies the towing operation to others. The standard signal for towing is one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. This exact pattern is used to clearly communicate to nearby vessels that a tow is in progress, so they can take appropriate actions to keep clear. The other patterns do not match the towing signal defined in the rules, so they wouldn’t convey that a tow is underway. The distinctive one prolonged blast plus two short blasts is what distinguishes towing from other vessel actions.

When a vessel is towing another vessel, there is a specific sound signal that identifies the towing operation to others. The standard signal for towing is one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts. This exact pattern is used to clearly communicate to nearby vessels that a tow is in progress, so they can take appropriate actions to keep clear.

The other patterns do not match the towing signal defined in the rules, so they wouldn’t convey that a tow is underway. The distinctive one prolonged blast plus two short blasts is what distinguishes towing from other vessel actions.