What step should be taken if a vessel must be abandoned due to a Distress situation?

When a vessel must be abandoned due to a distress situation, securing the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) to the survival craft and mounting the Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) for elevation is a crucial step to ensure effective rescue operations.

The primary function of the EPIRB is to transmit a distress signal along with the vessel's location to search and rescue authorities, which increases the chances of a timely response. By securing it to the survival craft, it guarantees that the signal will continue broadcasting in the event that the vessel sinks or drifts away, thus maximally enhancing the chances for rescuers to locate survivors.

Additionally, positioning the SART at an elevated position is important because it allows for better radar visibility. SARTs are designed to respond to radar signals and provide a clear indication of their position on a rescue vessel’s radar display. Elevating the SART increases its effectiveness, as it can be detected over greater distances and can help rescuers locate individuals in the survival craft.

The other options do not account for the immediate actions that need to be taken in an abandoned situation. For instance, alerting the U.S. Coast Guard using the survival craft's portable Inmarsat unit may not be the