What does two short blasts indicate?

What does two short blasts indicate?

• A. I intend to pass you on my port (left) side.
• B. Engines are in astern propulsion.
• C. I intend to pass you on my starboard (right) side.
• D. I require assistance.

Answer: (C)

Vessel signaling with the whistle communicates your intended maneuver to avoid a collision. Two short blasts tell the other vessel that you plan to pass them on their starboard (right) side. It’s a quick, clear way to indicate which side you’ll go past, so both vessels can adjust accordingly and stay safe. If you intended to pass on the port side, you’d use a different signal. The other options don’t describe passing on the starboard side: reversing engines or requesting assistance are signaled differently, so they don’t fit this two-short-blast scenario.

Vessel signaling with the whistle communicates your intended maneuver to avoid a collision. Two short blasts tell the other vessel that you plan to pass them on their starboard (right) side. It’s a quick, clear way to indicate which side you’ll go past, so both vessels can adjust accordingly and stay safe. If you intended to pass on the port side, you’d use a different signal. The other options don’t describe passing on the starboard side: reversing engines or requesting assistance are signaled differently, so they don’t fit this two-short-blast scenario.