Question 213 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is C) Both vessels must alter course to starboard and pass port to port. This is the correct answer because the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) Rule 14 states that when two power-driven vessels are meeting head-on, each vessel shall alter course to starboard so that they may pass port-to-port. Since the vessels in the illustration are meeting head-on, they must both alter course to starboard to safely pass each other. The other options are incorrect because A) relying on whistle signals is not the primary method for passing head-on, B) only one vessel altering course goes against the COLREGS requirement for both vessels to take action, and D) passing starboard-to-starboard is the incorrect maneuvering for a head-on meeting situation.