What should a Coxswain do to ensure safety during overloading?

A Coxswain plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of a vessel and its occupants, and one of the foremost responsibilities is to manage the vessel's weight capacity effectively. Avoiding placing more weight than the vessel can safely carry is essential because exceeding the recommended load can compromise the vessel's stability and buoyancy. Overloading can lead to difficulties in maneuvering, increased risk of capsizing, and a higher chance of water entering the hull, which can be catastrophic in adverse conditions.

While other choices also contribute to overall safety, they do not directly address the immediate risk posed by overloading. Regularly checking weather conditions is important for planning a safe trip, retrieving loose items helps prevent them from becoming hazards during movement, and ensuring that all passengers are wearing life vests is crucial for individual safety. However, if a vessel is overloaded from the start, these precautions would be insufficient to ensure safety. Managing weight is the foundational step in ensuring that all other safety measures are effective in maintaining the vessel's integrity and responding to any unforeseen circumstances.