OBS Online Boating Navigation Rules & Regulations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a red nun buoy mark in the US lateral buoyage system?
- The left side of a channel when returning from sea
- The right side of a channel when returning from sea (Correct answer)
- A hazard in open water
- A junction between two channels
Correct answer: The right side of a channel when returning from sea
Red nun buoys mark the right (starboard) side of a channel when boaters are returning from sea — 'Red Right Returning.'
Question 2: Under the Navigation Rules, what does it mean for a vessel to be 'underway'?
- The vessel is moving through the water
- The vessel is not at anchor, aground, or made fast to the shore (Correct answer)
- The vessel's engine is running
- The vessel is traveling faster than 5 knots
Correct answer: The vessel is not at anchor, aground, or made fast to the shore
A vessel is 'underway' whenever it is not anchored, aground, or tied to shore — even if it is drifting or stopped in the water.
Question 3: What is the required light configuration for a vessel being pushed ahead (not a composite unit) at night?
- Sidelights and a stern light only
- Two towing lights and sidelights
- Sidelights only at the forward end (Correct answer)
- All-round white light and sidelights
Correct answer: Sidelights only at the forward end
A vessel being pushed ahead that is not part of a composite unit shall exhibit sidelights at the forward end.
Question 4: How far must a vessel stay away from a US Navy vessel displaying a large-scale American flag and a red/yellow striped security zone flag?
- 50 yards
- 100 yards
- 500 yards (Correct answer)
- 1,000 yards
Correct answer: 500 yards
Vessels must stay at least 500 yards from US Navy ships and other vessels displaying the security zone flag.
Question 5: Which dayshape must a vessel constrained by its draft display?
- Three black balls in a vertical line
- A black diamond
- A cylinder (Correct answer)
- Two black cones apex together
Correct answer: A cylinder
A vessel constrained by its draft displays a cylinder as a dayshape to warn other vessels that it cannot maneuver freely.
Question 6: When a power-driven vessel is overtaking a sailing vessel in a narrow channel, who has the right of way?
- The sailing vessel always has right of way
- The overtaking vessel, because it is power-driven
- The overtaken vessel (the sailing vessel), because the overtaking vessel must keep clear (Correct answer)
- Whichever vessel sounds the first signal
Correct answer: The overtaken vessel (the sailing vessel), because the overtaking vessel must keep clear
Any overtaking vessel must keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken, regardless of propulsion type.
Question 7: What signal should a power-driven vessel sound when leaving a dock with vessels nearby?
- One prolonged blast (Correct answer)
- Three short blasts
- One prolonged and one short blast
- No signal is required by the rules
Correct answer: One prolonged blast
One prolonged blast is a warning signal that alerts nearby vessels when leaving a berth or dock.
OBS Online Boating Navigation Rules & Regulations 3
What does a red nun buoy mark in the US lateral buoyage system?