Question 612 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is D) a power-driven vessel. Under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and the Inland Navigation Rules, a vessel that is being propelled by both sail and engines is considered a power-driven vessel. This is because the presence of mechanical propulsion means the vessel can be controlled independently of the wind, making it subject to the rules governing power-driven vessels rather than sail vessels. The other options are incorrect because A) the vessel is not exempt from the rules, B) it is not considered a sail vessel due to the use of mechanical propulsion, and C) it is not a "special circumstance" vessel, as the rules clearly categorize it as a power-driven vessel.