What MAY be used to indicate the presence of a partly submerged object being towed?

• A. The beam of a search light from the towing vessel shown in the direction of the tow.
• B. A loud whistle from the towing vessel.
• C. A red flare.
• D. A colored flag.

Answer: (A)

When a vessel is towing a partly submerged object, making the tow’s location clearly visible to other boats is essential for safety. Shining the beam of a search light from the towing vessel in the direction of the tow provides a direct, easy-to-see cue that marks where the towed object lies, especially at night or in poor visibility. This visual indication helps nearby vessels steer clear and understand the tow’s direction, reducing the risk of collision or entanglement. The other signals—audible whistles, red flares, or colored flags—serve different purposes or rely on distress or general signaling and don’t specifically identify the presence and location of a towed object in the same reliable way as a targeted search-light beam.