Question 5 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is D) slow to bare steerageway. The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) Rule 19 states that in restricted visibility, a vessel that detects the presence of another vessel forward of the beam, but is unable to determine its position, must slow to the minimum speed necessary to maintain safe navigation. This action, known as slowing to bare steerageway, allows the vessel to maintain control and be able to take proper and effective action to avoid a collision. The other options are incorrect because: A) sounding two prolonged blasts is not the appropriate action in this situation, B) stopping the engines would not be the safest course of action, and C) sounding the danger signal is not required in this case.