Question 39 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is A) turning to port. According to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), a stand-on vessel that is forced to take action to avoid collision with a vessel on its own port side should, if possible, avoid turning to port. This is because turning to port would bring the stand-on vessel further into the path of the vessel on its port side, increasing the risk of collision. Instead, the stand-on vessel should turn to starboard to pass safely behind the other vessel. The other options are incorrect because increasing speed (B) or decreasing speed (C) may not be sufficient to avoid collision, and turning to starboard (D) would also not be the recommended action in this situation.