Which ESS mode would be appropriate for a small life raft?

• A. Low
• B. High
• C. Medium
• D. Médium

Answer: (D)

Choosing the right ESS mode for a small life raft is about balancing signal visibility with energy use and simplicity. ESS mode controls how aggressively the signaling devices operate. A small raft has limited power and space, so you want enough signaling to be detectable without draining batteries or wearing out equipment. Medium mode provides sufficient brightness or duration to be seen by searchers at a reasonable distance, while keeping power use and system wear reasonable. Low mode risks signals not being seen at distance, while High mode often wastes energy for little additional gain in a small raft. The option labeled with médium is simply the same medium setting, just with a different spelling.