Question 889 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is A) Five short and rapid blasts. According to the Inland and International Navigation Rules (Rule 34), if the vessel being overtaken determines that it is not safe for the overtaking vessel to pass on the starboard side, it must sound five short and rapid blasts on the whistle to indicate that the maneuver is unsafe. This alerts the overtaking vessel that the proposed passing arrangement is not acceptable and that they should not proceed with the maneuver. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not represent the proper sound signal to indicate an unsafe passing situation. Choices B, C, and D represent different sound signals with different meanings under the Navigation Rules.