Boating Certification Test Navigation Rules of the Road Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You are operating a power-driven vessel and see another power-driven vessel approaching from your starboard (right) side. The two vessels are on crossing paths and a risk of collision exists. What is your primary responsibility according to the Navigation Rules?
- Maintain your course and speed as the stand-on vessel.
- Alter your course to port to pass behind the other vessel.
- You are the give-way vessel and must take early and substantial action to keep clear. (Correct answer)
- Sound five short blasts on your horn to signal danger.
Correct answer: You are the give-way vessel and must take early and substantial action to keep clear.
According to Navigation Rule 15, when two power-driven vessels are crossing, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side is the 'give-way' vessel. The give-way vessel is required to take early and substantial action to keep well clear of the 'stand-on' vessel, which should maintain its course and speed.
Question 2: Two power-driven vessels are meeting in a head-on situation. What action is required by both vessels to avoid a collision?
- Both vessels should maintain course and speed.
- The smaller vessel must give way to the larger vessel.
- Both vessels should alter course to starboard and pass port-to-port. (Correct answer)
- Both vessels should alter course to port and pass starboard-to-starboard.
Correct answer: Both vessels should alter course to starboard and pass port-to-port.
Navigation Rule 14 specifically addresses head-on situations between two power-driven vessels. It states that when meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses, each vessel shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other.
Question 3: Which of the following sound signals should a power-driven vessel making way (underway and moving) sound in or near an area of restricted visibility, such as fog?
- One short blast every two minutes.
- Two prolonged blasts every minute.
- One prolonged blast at intervals of not more than two minutes. (Correct answer)
- Five or more short blasts continuously.
Correct answer: One prolonged blast at intervals of not more than two minutes.
Rule 35 of the Navigation Rules dictates the sound signals to be used in restricted visibility. A power-driven vessel making way through the water is required to sound one prolonged blast at intervals of not more than two minutes.
Question 4: A vessel that is required by the Navigation Rules to keep out of the way of another vessel is known as the:
- Privileged vessel
- Give-way vessel (Correct answer)
- Stand-on vessel
- Burdened vessel
Correct answer: Give-way vessel
The term 'give-way vessel' is used in the Navigation Rules to describe the vessel that must take early and substantial action to keep clear of the other vessel. The other vessel, which should maintain its course and speed, is called the 'stand-on vessel'.
Question 5: At night, you see a single white light ahead. As you get closer, you notice it is on a boat that appears to be stationary. What does this single all-round white light most likely indicate?
- A sailboat under sail.
- A power-driven vessel underway.
- A vessel engaged in fishing.
- A vessel at anchor. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A vessel at anchor.
According to the Navigation Rules, a vessel at anchor must display an all-round white light where it can best be seen. While small powerboats may also use an all-round white light, in the context of a stationary vessel, an anchor light is the most probable identification.
Question 6: You are overtaking another vessel in a narrow channel. Which of the following statements is true?
- The vessel being overtaken must slow down.
- You are the stand-on vessel and must maintain course and speed.
- You are the give-way vessel and must keep clear of the vessel you are overtaking. (Correct answer)
- You may only overtake on the starboard side of the other vessel.
Correct answer: You are the give-way vessel and must keep clear of the vessel you are overtaking.
Navigation Rule 13 states that any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken. Therefore, the overtaking vessel is always the give-way vessel, regardless of whether it is a powerboat or sailboat. The vessel being overtaken is the stand-on vessel and should maintain its course and speed.
Boating Certification Test Navigation Rules of the Road Questions and Answers 1
You are operating a power-driven vessel and see another power-driven vessel approaching from your starboard (right) side.
The two vessels are on crossing paths and a risk of collision exists.
What is your primary responsibility according to the Navigation Rules?