Question 7 TV03 - Towing Vessels - Western Rivers

The Correct Answer is C **Explanation of Option C (Correct Answer):** Option C, "when you can take proper and effective action to avoid collision," accurately reflects the definition and requirements of "safe speed" as laid out in Rule 6 of the COLREGS (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea). Rule 6 requires every vessel to proceed at a safe speed at all times. The primary criterion for determining a safe speed is that it must allow the vessel to take proper and effective action to avoid collision and to be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions. The ability to maneuver and avoid collision is the fundamental test of safe speed. **Explanation of Incorrect Options:** **A) when you are traveling slower than surrounding vessels:** This is incorrect. While speed must be moderated in heavy traffic, simply being slower than surrounding vessels does not guarantee safety. If surrounding vessels are speeding or conditions (like fog) necessitate a very low speed, a vessel traveling slower might still be traveling too fast relative to its ability to maneuver or stop. Safe speed is an absolute judgment based on conditions, not a relative comparison to other traffic. **B) when no wake comes from your vessel:** This is incorrect. Wake size is influenced by hull design, displacement, and speed relative to hull speed, but it is not the standard defined by the COLREGS for safe speed. A vessel might produce a significant wake while still being able to stop and maneuver effectively, or conversely, a small vessel producing almost no wake might still be traveling too fast in dense fog to avoid collision. **D) when you can stop within your visibility range:** This is a key *factor* often emphasized in limited visibility (Rule 19), but it is not the complete *definition* of safe speed applicable at all times (Rule 6). While visibility range is a major consideration, safe speed also accounts for factors like traffic density, maneuverability, draft, sea state, and the proximity of navigational hazards. Therefore, while crucial, "stopping within visibility range" is an application of safe speed in specific conditions (limited visibility), not the overarching definition applicable universally. Option C provides the broader, regulatory objective that safe speed must achieve.