Which of the following is a Big-5 Requirement data element?

• A. Number of persons on board
• B. AIS vessel type
• C. Engine hours
• D. Destination port

Answer: (A)

Big-5 data elements are the essential information used for rapid vessel assessment and safety planning. The number of persons on board is included because it directly drives emergency response decisions: it indicates how many lives may be at risk, shapes muster and evacuation plans, and determines the scale of search-and-rescue and medical resources that might be needed.

While destination port, AIS vessel type, and engine hours are relevant pieces of information in different contexts, they do not carry the same immediate safety and response implications as counting people aboard. Destination port helps with route and logistics planning, and AIS type and engine hours are useful for identification and operations, but they aren’t the core safety-relevant data that drive urgent incident response.