Question 24 ONC06 - Master LT 100 GRT

The Correct Answer is A **Why Option A is Correct:** This scenario is directly addressed by Rule 23(b) and the associated annexes of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), specifically Annex I (Positioning and Technical Details of Lights and Shapes), Section 8(a). Wing-in-Ground (WIG) craft are unique vessels that often cannot meet the specific dimensional and spacing requirements for lights due to their design constraints (low height, high speed, and specific aerodynamic needs). Rule 23(b) states that a WIG craft operating only on the surface of the water must exhibit the same lights as a power-driven vessel, but Annex I, Section 8(a) provides the necessary relief: "When the placement of the lights in accordance with these Rules is impractical, having regard to the structure of the WIG craft, those lights must, so far as possible, comply with this Annex and the government concerned must take the WIG craft's structural limitations into account when determining the position of the lights." Therefore, the WIG craft must comply as closely as possible, and the national government (the "government concerned") is responsible for determining the acceptable compliance given the craft's limitations. **Why Other Options are Incorrect:** * **B) An all-round light should be substituted for the after-masthead light and the stern light.** This is a common requirement for smaller vessels (less than 12 meters) or sometimes for fishing vessels, but it is not the standard regulatory allowance for a WIG craft that cannot meet spacing requirements. WIG craft, due to their size and speed, must carry the standard masthead lights unless specific exemptions (like those allowing closer spacing) are applied under Annex I. * **C) The WIG must carry only the lights that comply with the rules; the others may be omitted.** Omission is not permitted. A WIG craft, when operating on the water, is classified as a power-driven vessel and must carry the lights required for that classification (two masthead lights, sidelights, and a stern light). Omitting necessary navigation lights would violate the fundamental safety requirements of COLREGs. * **D) The WIG must be altered to permit full compliance with the rules.** This is impractical and often impossible due to the specialized aerodynamic and structural requirements of a WIG craft. The purpose of Annex I, Section 8(a) is precisely to acknowledge and accommodate these structural limitations, making alteration for *full* compliance unnecessary and often unfeasible.