Question 354 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is B) The vessels should exchange two blast whistle signals and pass starboard to starboard. This is correct because the Inland Navigation Rules state that when two power-driven vessels are meeting head-on or nearly head-on in a narrow channel, they should sound two short blasts (two-blast signal) and pass starboard-to-starboard. Since the vessels in the illustration are meeting nearly head-on and will pass about 1/4 mile apart, the two-blast whistle signal and passing starboard-to-starboard is the appropriate action. The other options are incorrect because option A calls for a one-blast signal, which is not appropriate for a head-on or nearly head-on meeting situation. Options C and D do not require any whistle signals, which is incorrect for vessels meeting head-on or nearly head-on in a narrow channel.