Question 201 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is C) Any later change of bearing between the two vessels shall not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel. This is correct because the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) state that an overtaking situation exists when one vessel is approaching another from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft its beam. As the overtaking vessel closes in, any change in bearing between the two vessels does not change the overtaking status - the overtaking vessel must maintain its course and speed until the overtaking is complete. The other options are incorrect: A) is false because the overtaking vessel is responsible for avoiding collision, not the vessel being overtaken. B) is false because the definition of an overtaking situation is more specific than "anywhere abaft the beam." D) is incorrect because option C is the only true statement.