BOTH INTERNATIONAL & INLAND If you saw flames aboard a vessel but could see the vessel was not on fire, what would this indicate?

Correct Answer: Option A — The vessel required immediate assistance

Annex IV, paragraph 1(e) lists flames on the vessel, such as those from a burning tar barrel or oil barrel, as a distress signal. Even if the vessel itself is not on fire, the presence of these flames is a universally recognized indicator that the vessel requires immediate assistance.