Boating Certification Test Navigation Rules 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a vessel display when it is anchored at night?
- A red light all around
- An all-round white light (Correct answer)
- A red and green sidelight
- No lights are required
Correct answer: An all-round white light
An anchored vessel displays an all-round white light visible from 2 miles.
Question 2: What action should a power-driven vessel take when it is the stand-on vessel in a crossing situation?
- Immediately slow down and stop
- Maintain course and speed, but be ready to take action if necessary (Correct answer)
- Turn sharply to port
- Sound five short blasts and stop
Correct answer: Maintain course and speed, but be ready to take action if necessary
The stand-on vessel must maintain course and speed but must act if collision becomes inevitable.
Question 3: At what range must a vessel's masthead light be visible?
- 1 nautical mile
- 3 nautical miles (Correct answer)
- 2 nautical miles
- 5 nautical miles
Correct answer: 3 nautical miles
A masthead light on a power-driven vessel 50 meters or more in length must be visible at 6 miles; for smaller vessels it varies, but 3 miles is the standard for vessels 12–50 meters.
Question 4: A vessel engaged in towing with a tow exceeding 200 meters astern displays what lights at the masthead?
- Two masthead lights in a vertical line
- Three masthead lights in a vertical line (Correct answer)
- One masthead light plus a towing light
- One masthead light only
Correct answer: Three masthead lights in a vertical line
Three masthead lights in a vertical line indicate a towing vessel whose tow exceeds 200 meters.
Question 5: Which situation describes a head-on meeting scenario?
- Vessels approaching at right angles
- Vessels approaching end-on or nearly so (Correct answer)
- One vessel overtaking another from astern
- A vessel entering a narrow channel
Correct answer: Vessels approaching end-on or nearly so
A head-on situation exists when vessels are approaching end-on or nearly end-on so both see each other's masthead lights in line.
Question 6: What lights must a vessel under oars display at night?
- A white stern light only
- A flashlight or lantern showing a white light (Correct answer)
- Red and green sidelights
- An all-round white light and stern light
Correct answer: A flashlight or lantern showing a white light
A vessel under oars may display the lights of a sailing vessel but must at minimum show a flashlight or lantern with a white light.
Question 7: What does the term 'safe speed' require of a vessel operator?
- Never exceeding 5 knots in any conditions
- Setting a speed that allows proper action to avoid collision within an appropriate distance (Correct answer)
- Matching the speed of nearby traffic
- Reducing to bare steerageway whenever another vessel is visible
Correct answer: Setting a speed that allows proper action to avoid collision within an appropriate distance
Safe speed allows the vessel to stop or maneuver effectively within the distance required by prevailing conditions.
Boating Certification Test Navigation Rules 3
What does a vessel display when it is anchored at night?