Question 8 ONC02 - Second Mate/Third Mate Unlimited Tonnage

The Correct Answer is A **Explanation for Option A (Two power-driven vessels meeting head-on):** Option A is governed by Rule 14 (Head-on Situation) of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) and the corresponding Inland Rules. This rule explicitly states that when two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision, **each shall alter her course to starboard** so that each may pass on the port side of the other. Since both vessels are required to take decisive action (altering course to starboard), this is a situation where the Rules require both vessels to change course. **Why the other options are incorrect:** * **B) Two power-driven vessels crossing when it is apparent to the stand-on vessel that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action:** This describes the application of Rule 17 (Action by Stand-on Vessel). Initially, only the give-way vessel is required to change course (Rule 15). The stand-on vessel is only required to act (change course) when the give-way vessel's action alone is insufficient (Rule 17(a)(ii)) or when collision cannot be avoided by the give-way vessel's action alone (Rule 17(b)). The Rules primarily assign the duty of action to one vessel (the give-way vessel) until a specific point of extreme necessity, making this a conditional, rather than mandatory, situation for both vessels to act simultaneously from the start of the risk. * **C) Two sailing vessels crossing with the wind on the same side:** This situation is governed by Rule 12 (Sailing Vessels). When two sailing vessels have the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to windward (closest to the wind) must keep out of the way of the vessel which is to leeward (furthest from the wind). This is a standard give-way/stand-on scenario where only one vessel (the vessel to windward, or the give-way vessel) is initially required to change course. * **D) All of the above:** Since options B and C do not mandate both vessels to change course immediately upon determining risk of collision, this option is incorrect.