A Life On The Ocean Wave 1 - Sea Safety Quiz

Answer: False

The 'RNLI', or 'Royal National Lifeboat Institution', is a charitable organisation which provides rescue services to those who find themselves in difficulty or distress in the waters around the British Isles. The national governing body for sailing within the United Kingdom is the 'Royal Yachting Association', commonly referred to as the 'RYA'.

The 'RYA' is the body that provides top quality sailing training and associated training courses for all those who wish to go to sea, whether in a leisure or commercial capacity, either under sail or under motor power.

The organisation also provides training for those who wish to enjoy their leisure time on the extensive network of canals and other inland waterways. Although training is not compulsory, it would be foolish indeed to venture too far from the relative safety of inland and coastal waters with little or no training whatsoever! Without the appropriate training from one organisation, you may well find yourself requiring the services of the other!

Answer: White square centred on a blue field

The flag popularly known as 'Blue Peter' represents the letter 'P' when used to signify a letter in a message and, when used in isolation as a message in itself, it instructs crew members to report back to their vessel as it is about to go to sea. When used by a vessel at sea, most often by fishing vessels, it is used to convey the message that the vessel has become snagged on an undersea obstruction. Of the other answers, the white saltire on a blue field represents the letter 'M' or 'Mike' and conveys the message that the vessel flying it has stopped, a flag consisting of a blue field with a single yellow stripe, top and bottom, represents the letter 'D' or 'Delta' and conveys the message that the vessel flying it is manoeuvring with difficulty and that other vessels should steer well clear. Finally, a yellow flag with a central black disc represents the letter 'I' or 'India' and conveys the message that the vessel flying it is changing its course to port.

Answer: Red and Green

When entering a harbour, these 'lateral marks' as they are known, must be kept green to starboard and red to port. On leaving harbour, the green buoys must be kept to port and the red to starboard. When navigating a channel, either leaving or entering a harbour, you must keep your vessel to your right hand side of the channel. Buoys that warn of danger, and many others, are standardised across the world.

However, in the system in use in the United States, the lateral mark system is reversed; on leaving a harbour the green lateral buoys must be kept to starboard, the red to port and vice versa on entering a harbour.

The opening of a safe channel may also be indicated by a pillar buoy painted with alternating red/white vertical stripes.

Answer: Cardinal marks

A large 'cardinal mark' buoy is placed at each of the cardinal compass points around a major underwater hazard.

Answer: False

The Harbourmaster is an officer appointed by a local authority and charged with the responsibility of enforcing the regulations pertinent to his port and for maintaining good practice by mariners within the port and its environs. Harbourmasters have varying levels of power, some individuals even having powers of arrest.

In many of the major ports around the globe, a number of Harbourmasters will be employed with the overall control of the team being wielded by an officer with the title of Chief Harbourmaster.

In the United States the Harbourmaster, also known as the Captain of the Port, will invariably be a serving officer of the U.S. Coastguard Service and will hold the rank of Captain.

Answer: The flag for 'Diver Down'

This swallowtail shaped flag, used mainly in Europe, signifies the letter 'A' or 'Alpha' and the message 'I have a diver down, please proceed slowly and steer well clear'. In the United States and Canada a red flag with a white diagonal stripe is also used to indicate 'Diver Down'...

Incidentally, a representation of this flag was used by rock band Van Halen on the cover of their 1982 album of the same name.

Answer: Black and Yellow

Black and yellow are used because of their high visible contrast with each other. These pillar buoys, placed around a major hazard on each of the cardinal compass points, are very important for marine safety. The buoys are positioned around the hazard as follows; to the north, the buoy is black over yellow, to the south it is yellow over black.

The buoy to the east is coloured black overall with a yellow central band, and finally, the buoy to the west is painted yellow overall with black central band.

For example; if you were to approach a hazard from a westerly direction you would see a yellow buoy with a black central band immediately to your front, a buoy painted black over yellow to your port side, a buoy painted yellow over black to your starboard side and finally, a buoy painted black with a yellow central band in the distance.

These buoys also carry a white light beacon at their top that display varying flash patterns during periods of darkness or poor visibility

Answer: Be prepared to approach and offer assistance

Persons waving their arms across their body are performing an internationally recognised signal that the crew are, or the vessel is, in distress. On seeing this display, it may also be good practice to check any signal flags flying as these will give you an idea as to what the problem with the vessel might be.

Answer: False

Anyone wishing to venture out to sea should be aware of the drill that must be carried out should anyone fall into the sea. After initially raising the alarm by shouting 'Man Overboard'! The person that raised the alarm should throw a buoyancy aid, such as a lifebuoy or life-ring, to the person in the water.

They should then point continuously at that person and must not allow themselves to become distracted for fear of losing sight of the person whilst preparations are made for their recovery.

The skipper should then manoeuvre the boat in a safe manner so as to come alongside the person and retrieve them using a line. It is always good practice to rescue someone from the water with a line rather than leaning over the side of the boat to pull them in... One person in the water is more than sufficient!

Answer: British merchant marine and civil ensign

The 'Red Duster' or 'Red Ensign' to give it its correct name is the ensign flown by vessels of the British Merchant Navy and by other commercial and civil vessels registered within the United Kingdom. Similar patterns are also in use by the merchant marine services of many members of the Commonwealth.

It is believed that the 'Red Ensign' came into being during the early years of the 17th century and was initially used by the Royal Navy until its adoption of the current 'White Ensign' in 1864.