When a visitor enters the line of side boys, what is the standard action?

• A. Piping the side begins
• B. Shouting commands
• C. Turning away
• D. Dropping the line

Answer: (A)

The standard action is to pipe the side. That means sounding the boatswain’s pipe to announce a visitor’s entry and to signal the line of side boys to acknowledge and prepare to receive the guest. It’s a formal cue that an important person is approaching, so the side boys come to attention and the escort can conduct the guest aboard or ashore with proper ceremony.

Shouting commands would break the ceremonial decorum, turning away would be disrespectful, and dropping the line would be a safety and discipline issue. Piping the side provides the orderly, respectful recognition that ceremony requires.