MCA CoC COLREGs & Watchkeeping 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does COLREGs stand for?
- Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (Correct answer)
- Collision Observation and Likelihood of Grounding Regulations
- Coastal Operator Lighting and General Emergency Standards
- Convention on Long Range Emergency Grid Systems
Correct answer: Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972
COLREGs stands for the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972. These internationally adopted rules govern the conduct of vessels, sound signals, lights, and shapes to prevent collision at sea.
Question 2: Under COLREGs, what is the 'stand-on' vessel required to do?
- Maintain course and speed so the give-way vessel can anticipate the situation, but take avoiding action if collision becomes inevitable (Correct answer)
- Always yield to the give-way vessel
- Speed up to pass ahead of the other vessel
- Alter course to port to give way
Correct answer: Maintain course and speed so the give-way vessel can anticipate the situation, but take avoiding action if collision becomes inevitable
The stand-on vessel must maintain its course and speed to allow the give-way vessel to take action. However, Rule 17 requires the stand-on vessel to take avoiding action if it becomes apparent that the give-way vessel is not acting appropriately and collision is imminent.
Question 3: COLREGs Rule 5 requires a proper look-out at all times. What does this include?
- Sight, hearing, and all available means including radar, AIS, and VHF — a continuous full-time watch (Correct answer)
- Visual observation only during daylight
- Radar watch only in restricted visibility
- A look-out posted only in confined waters
Correct answer: Sight, hearing, and all available means including radar, AIS, and VHF — a continuous full-time watch
Rule 5 requires every vessel to maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing, and by all available means including radar, AIS, and VHF, to make a full appraisal of the situation and risk of collision at all times.
Question 4: What action does COLREGs Rule 16 require of the 'give-way' vessel?
- Take early and substantial action to keep well clear of the stand-on vessel (Correct answer)
- Reduce speed only
- Sound one short blast and alter to port
- Maintain course and sound the danger signal
Correct answer: Take early and substantial action to keep well clear of the stand-on vessel
Rule 16 requires the give-way vessel to take early and substantial action to keep well clear. 'Early' means as soon as the crossing/overtaking situation is identified; 'substantial' means a clearly evident alteration, not a small change.
Question 5: Under COLREGs, in a crossing situation where a power-driven vessel has another on its starboard side, who gives way?
- The vessel with the other on its starboard side is the give-way vessel — it must keep out of the way (Correct answer)
- The vessel on the starboard side gives way
- The smaller vessel always gives way
- The vessel making the greater speed gives way
Correct answer: The vessel with the other on its starboard side is the give-way vessel — it must keep out of the way
In a crossing situation between two power-driven vessels, the vessel that has the other on its own starboard side is the give-way vessel and must take action to keep clear. The other vessel is the stand-on vessel.
Question 6: What lights must a power-driven vessel underway display at night under COLREGs?
- Masthead light forward, second masthead light aft (if over 50m), sidelights (red to port, green to starboard), and stern light (white) (Correct answer)
- An all-round white light and two red sidelights
- A flashing yellow light and white stern light
- Only sidelights are mandatory
Correct answer: Masthead light forward, second masthead light aft (if over 50m), sidelights (red to port, green to starboard), and stern light (white)
A power-driven vessel underway must display a forward masthead light (white), a second masthead light aft and higher (if 50m or longer), red sidelight to port, green sidelight to starboard, and a white stern light visible astern.
MCA CoC COLREGs & Watchkeeping 1
What does COLREGs stand for?