Question 23 ONC07 - OUPV-Near Coastal

The Correct Answer is D **Why Option D is Correct:** Option D ("if the bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change") is the literal definition provided in the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) and the corresponding Inland Rules. Rule 7 (Risk of Collision), paragraph (b), states: "Such risk shall be deemed to exist if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change, and remains the primary criterion for determining risk of collision." This principle is known as Constant Bearing, Decreasing Range (CBDR) and indicates that the two vessels are on a collision course. **Why Options A, B, and C are Incorrect:** * **A) whenever a vessel crosses ahead of the intended track of another vessel:** While crossing situations are dangerous and require action, they do not automatically define when the *risk of collision shall be deemed to exist* under the Rules. The determining factor is still whether the bearing is changing, or if the range is decreasing. * **B) if one vessel approaches another so as to be overtaking:** Overtaking is a specific category of encounter, but like crossing, it describes the *relationship* between vessels rather than the definitive *condition* under which risk is deemed to exist. An overtaking vessel might still pass safely without risk of collision if the bearing changes rapidly and the range remains constant or increases momentarily. * **C) whenever two vessels approach from opposite directions:** Vessels approaching head-on (opposite directions) is a situation defined by the Rules (Rule 14), but this does not satisfy the specific requirement for *deeming* risk of collision to exist. Two vessels approaching from opposite directions (e.g., ships far apart in a wide channel) may pose no risk of collision if their bearings are rapidly changing as they pass by.