Question 7 RVR03 - Mate 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," accurately reflects the definition of "safe speed" as described in Rule 6 (Safe Speed) of the COLREGS (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea). The rule states 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 ability to take proper and effective avoiding action is the primary operational goal of maintaining a safe speed. ### Why Other Options are Incorrect **A) when you are traveling slower than surrounding vessels** This is incorrect. A safe speed is determined by prevailing conditions (visibility, traffic density, maneuverability of the vessel, etc.), not simply by comparing your speed to others. Traveling slower than surrounding vessels might sometimes be safer, but it is not the definition of a safe speed. In high traffic, traveling too slow might itself create a danger. **B) when no wake comes from your vessel** This is incorrect. While reducing speed often reduces the wake, speed and wake generation are not the primary metrics for defining safety under the COLREGS. Many vessels, particularly large ones, will generate a wake even at a safe speed. **D) when you can stop within your visibility range** This is a critical factor *contributing* to safe speed, particularly in restricted visibility (as mentioned in Rule 19). However, it is not the complete or definitive definition of safe speed itself. Rule 6 requires a speed that allows both effective avoiding action *and* stopping within an appropriate distance, which may sometimes be less than the limit of visibility, depending on factors like traffic and current. Option C encompasses the broader operational requirement defined by Rule 6.