You are the OOW on watch when a fire alarm activates in the engine room of the yacht. What is your immediate first action before anything else?

A. Raise the alarm to alert the Master and crew, and begin mustering procedures while assessing the situation from the bridge/helm station

B. Wait for confirmation from a second alarm before taking any action

C. Shut down all electrical systems on the vessel immediately

D. Go directly to the engine room to investigate the cause

A. There is no real difference — the terms are interchangeable and either is equally suitable for any situation

B. Lifejackets are only required for vessels over 24 metres in length

C. A lifejacket is designed to turn an unconscious wearer face-up and keep the airway clear of the water (often using greater, sometimes inflatable, buoyancy); a buoyancy aid provides flotation support for a conscious person (e.g. for water sports) but is not designed to guarantee a face-up position if the wearer is unconscious — for offshore passages, a lifejacket (not merely a buoyancy aid) is the appropriate choice

D. A buoyancy aid is always more buoyant than a lifejacket

A. Shout "Man overboard!" to alert all crew, throw a lifebuoy/danbuoy toward the casualty, note the time and approximate position (and mark it on GPS/plotter if fitted), designate a crew member to keep the casualty in sight continuously, and manoeuvre the vessel back toward the casualty using a recovery method appropriate to the vessel (e.g. figure-of-eight or quick-stop for a sailing vessel), preparing recovery equipment as you approach

B. Continue on the original course and call the coastguard only once the vessel reaches port

C. Send one crew member into the water to assist before any other action is taken

D. Immediately stop the engine and wait for the casualty to swim back to the vessel