The Emergency Position Indicating Radio beacon on an OSV vessel must be stowed __________.

Correct Answer: Option A — so that it will float free if the vessel sinks

46 CFR 133.130 mandates that EPIRBs be stowed in a manner that allows them to float free and activate automatically if the vessel sinks. This ensures the beacon reaches the surface to transmit distress signals via satellite, regardless of the vessel's final orientation or the crew's ability to manually deploy it.