Question 4193 Deck General

The correct answer is D) headway. When a vessel has headway, it has forward momentum and can be more easily steered and controlled compared to when it has no way on or is moving astern (sternway). With headway, the rudder has sufficient water flow over it to effectively steer the vessel. In contrast, with no way on (A) or sternway (C), the rudder is less effective at providing steering control. Having the engines full ahead (B) without any way on the vessel would not provide adequate steering control. Therefore, a vessel under steering control is best maintained when it has headway, which allows the rudder to be used effectively to steer the vessel.