Question 7 RVR02 - Master of LT 500-1600 GRT

The Correct Answer is C ### Why Option C is Correct Option C, "when you can take proper and effective action to avoid collision," is the correct definition because it directly reflects the requirements of Rule 6 (Safe Speed) of the COLREGS (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea). Rule 6 mandates that every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions. The essence of a "safe speed" is maintaining sufficient maneuverability and reaction time to prevent an accident, making the ability to take proper and effective action the core operational requirement. ### Why Other Options Are Incorrect **A) when you are traveling slower than surrounding vessels** This is incorrect. While speed reduction might be necessary in heavy traffic, traveling slower than surrounding vessels does not automatically guarantee safety. If the surrounding vessels are traveling too fast for the conditions (e.g., in fog or restricted visibility), traveling slightly slower may still be an unsafe speed for your vessel. Safe speed is an absolute judgment based on conditions and your vessel's stopping capability, not a relative judgment based solely on the speed of others. **B) when no wake comes from your vessel** This is incorrect. A "no wake" speed is a specific operational requirement often imposed in harbors or environmentally sensitive areas to prevent damage from wave action. While proceeding at a no-wake speed is often a very slow, and thus often a safe, speed, a vessel traveling at sea in good visibility can (and must, according to Rule 5 – Look-out) travel faster than a speed that produces no wake, as long as that speed allows for effective collision avoidance. **D) when you can stop within your visibility range** This is incorrect. While Rule 6 requires that a vessel be able to be "stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions," defining safe speed solely as being able to stop within *visibility range* is too restrictive and not the primary definition provided by the rule. Furthermore, a safe speed involves more than just stopping; it also requires the ability to **maneuver** (turn or alter course) effectively. Visibility range is one factor considered (especially in restricted visibility), but the overarching requirement is the ability to take proper and effective *action* to avoid collision, which includes slowing, stopping, and turning.