MCA CoC Collision Regulations (COLREGs) 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Rule 13 of the COLREGs, when is a vessel considered to be overtaking another?
- When she is approaching within 2 nautical miles of the other vessel
- When coming up with another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft her beam (Correct answer)
- When she is travelling at a speed greater than 15 knots
- When she can see the other vessel's sidelights
Correct answer: When coming up with another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft her beam
Rule 13(b) states that a vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when coming up with another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft the other vessel's beam — that is, in a position from which at night she would be able to see only the sternlight and neither sidelight. The overtaking vessel must keep out of the way until finally past and clear.
Question 2: What day shape must a vessel at anchor display under the COLREGs?
- One black diamond shape
- One black ball in the fore part of the vessel (Correct answer)
- Two black balls in a vertical line
- A black cone with the point downward
Correct answer: One black ball in the fore part of the vessel
Rule 30(a) requires a vessel at anchor to display in the fore part where it can best be seen, a black ball shape. Vessels of 50 metres or more must also display an anchor light at the stern lower than the forward anchor light. The ball shape is one of the simplest day signals in the COLREGs.
Question 3: Rule 6 of the COLREGs addresses 'Safe Speed'. Which of the following is NOT listed as a factor to be taken into account when determining safe speed?
- The state of visibility
- The traffic density in the area
- The commercial urgency of the voyage (Correct answer)
- The draught in relation to the available depth of water
Correct answer: The commercial urgency of the voyage
Rule 6 lists factors including visibility, traffic density, manoeuvrability of the vessel, background light at night, wind/sea/current conditions, draught relative to depth, and radar characteristics. Commercial urgency is explicitly NOT a factor — safe speed is determined solely by navigational safety considerations.
Question 4: A vessel displays two all-round red lights in a vertical line and also sidelights and a sternlight. Under the COLREGs, what does this indicate?
- A vessel not under command but making way through the water (Correct answer)
- A vessel aground
- A vessel constrained by her draught
- A vessel engaged in fishing
Correct answer: A vessel not under command but making way through the water
Under Rule 27(a), a vessel not under command displays two all-round red lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen. When making way through the water, she additionally shows sidelights and a sternlight. When stopped and not making way, only the two red lights are displayed without sidelights or sternlight.
Question 5: According to Rule 14, what constitutes a head-on situation between two power-driven vessels?
- When vessels approach each other from any direction
- When each vessel can see both sidelights of the other vessel, or when by night the masthead lights are in line or nearly in line (Correct answer)
- When vessels are on parallel courses
- When one vessel is crossing the bow of the other
Correct answer: When each vessel can see both sidelights of the other vessel, or when by night the masthead lights are in line or nearly in line
Rule 14(a) states that when two power-driven vessels are meeting on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses so as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter course to starboard so that each passes on the port side of the other. A head-on situation exists when a vessel sees the other ahead or nearly ahead, and by night could see the masthead lights in a line or nearly in line and/or both sidelights.
Question 6: Under Rule 18, which of the following correctly describes the hierarchy of vessels from most privileged (stand-on) to least privileged (give-way)?
- Fishing, sailing, restricted in ability to manoeuvre, not under command
- Not under command, restricted in ability to manoeuvre, constrained by draught, fishing, sailing, power-driven (Correct answer)
- Sailing, power-driven, not under command, fishing
- Power-driven, constrained by draught, fishing, sailing
Correct answer: Not under command, restricted in ability to manoeuvre, constrained by draught, fishing, sailing, power-driven
Rule 18 establishes the hierarchy: A vessel not under command has the highest priority, followed by a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre, then a vessel constrained by her draught, then a vessel engaged in fishing, then a sailing vessel, and finally a power-driven vessel which must give way to all the above categories.
MCA CoC Collision Regulations (COLREGs) 2
Under Rule 13 of the COLREGs, when is a vessel considered to be overtaking another?