Question 40 GLI08 - Limited OUPV

The Correct Answer is D The stand-on vessel's duty to maintain course and speed is fundamental, but Rules 17(b) and 17(c) of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) provide specific exceptions allowing or requiring the stand-on vessel to take action. Option D ("All of the above") is correct because all three conditions (A, B, and C) must be met, either explicitly or implicitly, to justify the stand-on vessel altering course or speed by her maneuver alone. **Explanation of why option D is correct:** The stand-on vessel is authorized to take action under two scenarios governed by Rule 17: 1. **Rule 17(b) (Permission to Act):** The stand-on vessel *may* take action as soon as it becomes apparent that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action. This directly addresses **Condition B**. 2. **Rule 17(a)(ii) (The General Rule):** The stand-on vessel *shall*, when for any reason the stand-on vessel finds herself so close that collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give-way vessel alone, take such action as will best aid to avoid collision. This mandatory requirement is triggered only when a collision is imminent, which requires that **Condition C** (risk of collision) exists. Furthermore, in any crossing or overtaking situation where these rules apply, the vessels must be visible to each other for the stand-on/give-way hierarchy to apply in the first place, thus satisfying **Condition A**. The determination that the give-way vessel is not taking action (B) often relies on visual assessment (A) in the context of a developing risk (C). Therefore, for the stand-on vessel to legally and safely maneuver by action alone, all three conditions must be present: risk of collision exists (C), they must be in sight (A), and the stand-on vessel must perceive the give-way vessel's failure to act appropriately (B). **Brief explanation of why the other options are incorrect (as stand-alone answers):** * **A) She must be in sight of the give-way vessel:** While necessary for Rules 11-18 (Conduct of Vessels in Sight of One Another) to apply, simply being in sight (A) is not enough. The stand-on vessel still must perceive a lack of action by the other vessel (B) in the context of danger (C) before initiating a maneuver that might confuse the situation. * **B) She must determine that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action:** This determination is the prerequisite defined in Rule 17(b), giving the stand-on vessel permission to act. However, if there were no risk of collision (C), or if the vessels were not in sight (e.g., in restricted visibility, different rules apply), the determination alone would not justify the stand-on vessel violating her primary duty to maintain course and speed. * **C) There must be risk of collision:** The stand-on vessel's duty is defined in situations where risk of collision exists (Rule 7). However, merely having a risk of collision (C) is not sufficient to justify the stand-on vessel taking action; she must first determine that the give-way vessel is failing to fulfill its duty (B) before taking action under Rule 17(b) or waiting until the danger is imminent under Rule 17(a)(ii).