Question 38 GLI03 - Master-LT 500-1600 GRT

The Correct Answer is A **Explanation for Option A:** Under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), Rule 34 (Maneuvering and Warning Signals) specifies the meaning of short blasts: * One short blast means "I am altering my course to starboard." * **Two short blasts mean "I am altering my course to port."** The signal is an unambiguous declaration of the immediate action being taken by the vessel sounding the signal. **Explanation for Other Options:** **B) "I desire to pass starboard to starboard"** While a vessel changing course to port (two blasts) in a meeting situation is often doing so to facilitate a starboard-to-starboard passing, the two-blast signal itself directly means "I am altering my course to port," not merely "I desire" to pass. Furthermore, passing starboard-to-starboard is the non-standard way of meeting (as Rule 14 dictates port-to-port passing whenever safe and practicable), but the signal still describes the course alteration action. **C) "I desire to pass port-to-port"** Passing port-to-port requires both vessels to alter course to **starboard**. This course alteration is communicated by a **one-blast** signal. Therefore, two blasts are incorrect for this maneuver. **D) "I intend to alter course to port"** International COLREGs specifically use the present continuous tense: "I am altering..." (Rule 34(a)(i)). This signifies that the vessel is actively executing the maneuver as the whistle is blown. While the signal obviously implies intent, the precise and legally required wording under the International rules focuses on the immediate action rather than future intent, distinguishing it from the phrasing used in certain domestic (e.g., U.S. Inland) rules.