Question 289 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is B) take avoiding action as soon as possible. The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) Rule 19 states that when a vessel detects by radar the presence of another vessel in a fog, and determines that a risk of collision exists, the vessel shall take avoiding action as soon as possible. This is the appropriate action to take in this situation, as waiting until the other vessel is sighted could leave insufficient time to maneuver and avoid a collision. The other answer choices are incorrect because: A) sounding the danger signal is not an appropriate action to avoid a collision; C) stopping the engines may not be the best course of action to avoid the collision; and D) holding course and speed is not recommended when a risk of collision has been determined by radar.