Question 13 UFV02 - Mate - Uninspected Fishing Vessels

The Correct Answer is A. **Explanation for Option A (Correct):** Option A, "Slow to minimum to maintain course and navigate with caution," is the correct action required by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), specifically Rule 19 (Conduct of Vessels in Restricted Visibility). Rule 19(e) states: "Except where it has been determined that a risk of collision does not exist, every vessel which hears apparently forward of her beam the fog signal of another vessel, or which cannot avoid a close-quarters situation with an apparently forward of her beam, shall reduce her speed to the minimum at which she can be kept on her course. She shall if necessary take all her way off and in any event navigate with extreme caution until danger of collision is over." When underway in heavy fog and hearing a fog signal ahead, you are required to reduce speed to the minimum necessary to maintain steerage (minimum course) and proceed with extreme caution. **Explanation for Other Options (Incorrect):** * **B) Slow to moderate speed and navigate with caution:** This is insufficient. Rule 19 requires reducing speed to the *minimum* necessary to maintain course, not merely a moderate reduction. Moderate speed is still too fast given the restricted visibility and proximity of another vessel ahead. * **C) Stop engines and navigate with caution:** While taking way off may sometimes be necessary (Rule 19(e) says "She shall if necessary take all her way off"), stopping the engines entirely may cause the vessel to lose steerage, preventing effective maneuvering. The primary requirement is to slow to the *minimum* required speed, which is usually the slowest speed at which the vessel can still be steered. * **D) Maintain speed and sound five short and rapid blasts:** Maintaining speed is a direct violation of Rule 19(e), which mandates speed reduction. Sounding five short and rapid blasts (the danger signal) is used to indicate doubt about another vessel's intentions or actions, but it is not the required primary action when simply hearing a vessel ahead in the fog. The immediate required action is speed reduction and caution.