How many whistle blasts call attention to starboard when rendering honors during a ship's passing?

When rendering honors during a ship's passing, one whistle blast specifically calls attention to the starboard side. This practice is rooted in nautical tradition, where each number of blasts has designated meanings.

In maritime communication, specific whistle signals are used to convey particular messages or intentions. A single blast is recognized as the signal to indicate that attention should be directed to the starboard side, aligning with standard naval procedures for rendering respects and ensuring proper protocol is followed during solemn occasions, such as passing another vessel.

Understanding this rule is crucial for personnel involved in naval operations, as it reflects proper etiquette and adherence to service customs, especially when dealing with honors and ceremonies involving vessels of different ranks. The other choices reflect a misunderstanding of the established protocol for attention calls, as the additional number of blasts signifies other actions or alerts that are not applicable in this particular context of calling attention to the starboard side.