Question 461 Rules of the Road

90% to pass

INTERNATIONAL ONLY On open water, a power-driven vessel coming up dead astern of another vessel and altering her course to starboard so as to pass on the starboard side of the vessel ahead would sound which signal?

A One long and one short blast
B Two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast
C Two short blasts
D One short blast
AI Explanation

The correct answer is D) One short blast. According to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), when a power-driven vessel is overtaking another vessel from astern and altering course to starboard to pass on the starboard side, the overtaking vessel should sound one short blast to indicate their intention. This signal communicates to the vessel being overtaken that the overtaking vessel is taking action to pass safely on the starboard side. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not match the signal required for this specific overtaking situation under the COLREGS. A single short blast is the proper sound signal in this scenario.

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Official Resources
USCG Navigation Rules (COLREGS) 33 CFR Navigation Rules USCG Navigation Center
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