Question 196 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is A) The tug is the stand-on vessel because it is being overtaken. According to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), Rule 13 on Overtaking states that the vessel being overtaken is the stand-on vessel, regardless of whether it is a sailing vessel or a vessel under power. In this case, the tug and tow is the vessel being overtaken by the sailing vessel, so the tug is the stand-on vessel and must maintain its course and speed. The sailing vessel, as the overtaking vessel, must keep out of the way of the tug. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not properly apply the COLREGS rules on overtaking situations.