Question 12 ONC05 - Master or Mate of LT 200 GRT

The Correct Answer is A. **Explanation for Option A (Correct Answer):** Option A, "take all way off, if necessary," is the correct action required under the specified circumstances. The scenario describes hearing the fog signal of a vessel forward of your beam, where risk of collision may exist, in conditions of restricted visibility (Rule 19). Rule 19(e) of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) specifically addresses the mandatory actions when hearing a fog signal forward of the beam and risk of collision exists: > "If a vessel determines that risk of collision exists, she shall take early and substantial action to reduce her speed to a minimum and if necessary take all her way off, and in any event navigate with extreme caution until danger of collision is over." Therefore, taking all way off (stopping the vessel's movement through the water) is an explicitly required action if it is necessary to avoid a close-quarters situation or collision. **Explanation of Incorrect Options:** * **B) stop your engines:** While reducing speed to a minimum is required, simply stopping the engines does not guarantee taking all way off or immediately stopping the vessel. A ship may drift significantly after engines are stopped. Furthermore, there might be situations where maintaining steerage or a very minimal speed is necessary for safety, making "stopping the engines" too restrictive as a sole mandatory action compared to the broader requirement of taking all way off. * **C) begin a radar plot:** Beginning a radar plot is good seamanship and strongly recommended under Rule 19(d), which mandates using radar if fitted. However, Rule 19(e) (the rule covering the mandatory action when risk of collision exists and a signal is heard forward of the beam) requires immediate maneuvering action (reducing speed/taking way off), not just observational action. While plotting/observing is important, it is not the *required* immediate action mandated by 19(e) to resolve the danger, whereas taking all way off is. * **D) All of the above:** Since B and C are not the specific mandated requirements of Rule 19(e) that must be taken in this situation (as A is), "All of the above" is incorrect.