Question 43 GLI08 - Limited OUPV

The Correct Answer is A **Why option A ("bare steerageway") is correct:** This scenario is governed by Rule 19 (Conduct of vessels in restricted visibility) of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), which applies to both international and inland waters (often adopted by national regulations). Specifically, Rule 19(e) states: "Except where it has been determined that a risk of collision does not exist, every vessel hearing a fog signal of a vessel apparently forward of her beam, or which cannot avoid a close quarter situation with an apparently forward vessel, shall reduce her speed to the **minimum at which she can be kept on her course (bare steerageway)** and if necessary take all her way off and in any event navigate with extreme caution until danger of collision is over." Therefore, when a vessel hears a fog signal forward of the beam and has not determined that risk of collision does not exist, she is required to reduce speed to bare steerageway. **Why each of the other options is incorrect:** * **B) safe speed:** While Rule 19(b) mandates that vessels proceed at a safe speed adapted to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility, the situation described (hearing a fog signal forward of the beam without determining safety) is a specific, immediate danger trigger. In this specific situation, "safe speed" is overridden by the more stringent requirement to reduce speed to bare steerageway to maximize stopping distance and reaction time. * **C) half speed:** This term is not a regulatory standard defined by COLREGs for collision avoidance. Reducing speed to half speed may still be too fast to comply with the Rule 19(e) requirement for bare steerageway, especially for large vessels with significant momentum. * **D) moderate speed:** Like "half speed," "moderate speed" is not a defined term in the COLREGs for collision avoidance. The required action when hearing a signal forward of the beam is to reduce speed to the lowest functional limit ("bare steerageway"), not merely a subjective or unspecified "moderate" level.