A prolonged blast lasts approximately how many seconds?

• A. 4-6 seconds
• B. 8-10 seconds
• C. 1-2 seconds
• D. 6-8 seconds

Answer: (A)

In maritime signaling, a prolonged blast has a specific duration that sets it apart from a short blast. A prolonged blast lasts about four to six seconds, which is noticeably longer than a short blast (roughly one second). This longer duration is used to convey a stronger warning or intention to maneuver to other vessels. The other options fall outside the standard range: eight to ten seconds is too long for a prolonged blast, one to two seconds is too short, and six to eight seconds exceeds the upper limit of the defined four-to-six-second window. So, four to six seconds is the correct duration.