PFDs must be approved by which authorities?

• A. U.S Coast Guard
• B. U.S Coast Guard or Transport Canada
• C. Transport Canada only
• D. US Navy

Answer: (B)

PFDs must carry official approval from a recognized regulatory authority to ensure they meet tested buoyancy and performance standards. In the United States, that authority is the U.S. Coast Guard, and in Canada it is Transport Canada. A PFD with the Coast Guard approval mark is suitable for use in U.S. waters, while one with the Transport Canada mark is suitable for Canadian waters. The U.S. Navy is not a certification body for civilian PFDs. Some PFDs may bear both agencies’ marks or be approved in a jurisdiction-specific way, depending on where they’re used.