OBS Communication & Documentation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a single prolonged blast of a horn lasting 4-6 seconds indicate when a vessel is departing a dock?
- The vessel is reversing
- The vessel is leaving the berth (Correct answer)
- There is danger ahead
- Another vessel is overtaking
Correct answer: The vessel is leaving the berth
One prolonged blast (4-6 seconds) signals a vessel is departing from a dock or berth.
Question 2: On VHF radio, what does 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY' followed by the vessel name indicate?
- A navigational warning
- A routine safety call
- A distress call for grave and imminent danger (Correct answer)
- A request for a radio check
Correct answer: A distress call for grave and imminent danger
MAYDAY repeated three times is the internationally recognized distress signal for a vessel in grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance.
Question 3: Which VHF channel is designated for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore commercial working traffic?
- Channel 16
- Channel 22A
- Channel 9
- Channel 68 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Channel 68
Channel 68 is one of the recreational working channels used for ship-to-ship communication after establishing contact on Channel 16.
Question 4: What information must be included in a float plan left with a responsible person before departure?
- Only the destination and expected return time
- Vessel description, trip itinerary, crew list, and emergency contacts (Correct answer)
- Just the captain's cell phone number
- The vessel's insurance policy number
Correct answer: Vessel description, trip itinerary, crew list, and emergency contacts
A complete float plan includes vessel description, color, registration numbers, trip itinerary, number of persons aboard, and emergency contact information.
Question 5: How long should a skipper wait before contacting the Coast Guard if an overdue vessel has not returned according to a float plan?
- Immediately when the vessel is 30 minutes overdue
- When the vessel is 2 hours overdue
- Only after 24 hours have passed
- There is no standard — use judgment based on conditions (Correct answer)
Correct answer: There is no standard — use judgment based on conditions
There is no fixed wait time; the decision to contact the Coast Guard depends on weather, vessel type, operator experience, and other circumstances.
Question 6: What does the abbreviation 'UTC' mean in marine communications and logs?
- United Traffic Control
- Universal Time Coordinated (Correct answer)
- Underwater Transmission Code
- US Traffic Channel
Correct answer: Universal Time Coordinated
UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) is the global time standard used in marine communications to avoid confusion across time zones.
Question 7: When using the phonetic alphabet in radio communications, how is the letter 'M' pronounced?
- Metro
- Mike (Correct answer)
- Mary
- Mango
Correct answer: Mike
In the NATO phonetic alphabet used in marine communications, 'M' is pronounced 'Mike' to avoid confusion over radio.
OBS Communication & Documentation 2
What does a single prolonged blast of a horn lasting 4-6 seconds indicate when a vessel is departing a dock?