Question 217 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is D) Overtaking. According to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), a vessel is in an overtaking situation when it is approaching another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft its beam, i.e., from an angle of more than 112.5 degrees relative to the other vessel's course. In this case, the vessel is approaching at 235 degrees relative, which is more than 112.5 degrees relative to the other vessel's course, indicating an overtaking situation. The other options are incorrect because a crossing situation involves vessels crossing each other's paths at an angle, a meeting situation involves vessels approaching each other head-on, and a passing situation involves vessels traveling in the same direction but one vessel overtaking the other.