What is the command for stop/avast the lifeboat?

• A. One short blast
• B. Verbal
• C. Three short blasts
• D. Two short blasts of the whistle

Answer: (D)

In lifeboat signaling, stopping the boat is communicated clearly with a whistle pattern that is easy to hear over wind and water. The two short blasts on the whistle is the recognized stop command, telling all hands to Avast and halt movement. This pattern is chosen because it’s distinct and immediately understood at a distance, reducing confusion during drills or emergencies.

Verbal commands can be drowned out by wind or water spray, making a fixed whistle signal more reliable. A single short blast or three short blasts refer to other commands or maneuvers in standard signaling, so they don’t convey the explicit stop instruction that two short blasts does.