Vessels operating in warm water and not traveling farther than 20 miles from safe harbor must have at least _____ life floats or jackets for people on board.

• A. 25%
• B. 75%
• C. 50%
• D. 100%

Answer: (C)

When vessels operate in warm water and stay within 20 miles of safe harbor, the safety gear requirement is relaxed compared to offshore operations. You must have enough life jackets or life floats for at least half of the people on board. This means roughly 50% of the passengers and crew should have access to a U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jacket (or a life float) readily available. The nearshore, warm-water assumption makes rescue times shorter and survival more likely, so the rule allows this reduced ratio.

Keep in mind the life jackets still need to be U.S.CG-approved and readily accessible, and as you move farther from safe harbor or into colder waters, the requirement becomes more stringent.