Ship Driver Rules of the Road (COLREGS) 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to COLREGS, which vessel is the 'stand-on' vessel in a crossing situation?
- The vessel with the other on its port side
- The vessel with the other on its starboard side (Correct answer)
- The larger vessel
- The faster vessel
Correct answer: The vessel with the other on its starboard side
In a crossing situation, the vessel that has the other on its starboard side is the stand-on vessel and must maintain course and speed.
Question 2: What action must a give-way vessel take in a crossing situation?
- Sound three short blasts and stop
- Take early and substantial action to keep well clear (Correct answer)
- Speed up to cross ahead
- Wait for the stand-on vessel to maneuver
Correct answer: Take early and substantial action to keep well clear
The give-way vessel must take early, large, and obvious action to avoid the stand-on vessel, preferably altering course to pass astern.
Question 3: What does one short blast on a vessel's whistle mean in inland waters?
- I am in distress
- I am altering course to starboard (Correct answer)
- I am altering course to port
- I am operating in reverse
Correct answer: I am altering course to starboard
In US Inland Rules, one short blast is a maneuvering signal meaning 'I intend to leave you on my port side' (turning right/starboard).
Question 4: Which vessel has right-of-way over a power-driven vessel underway?
- A vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
- A vessel engaged in fishing with nets
- Both A and B (Correct answer)
- Neither A nor B
Correct answer: Both A and B
Both vessels restricted in ability to maneuver and vessels engaged in fishing with gear out have priority over ordinary power-driven vessels under COLREGS Rule 18.
Question 5: What light configuration indicates a power-driven vessel underway less than 50 meters in length?
- Masthead light forward, sternlight aft, sidelights (Correct answer)
- Two masthead lights, sternlight, sidelights
- All-round white light only
- Red and white lights only
Correct answer: Masthead light forward, sternlight aft, sidelights
A power-driven vessel under 50m must show one forward masthead light, a sternlight, and red/green sidelights per COLREGS Rule 23.
Question 6: When two vessels are in a head-on situation, what should each vessel do?
- The larger vessel maintains course, smaller vessel yields
- Both vessels alter course to starboard to pass port-to-port (Correct answer)
- The slower vessel stops and waits
- Both vessels stop immediately
Correct answer: Both vessels alter course to starboard to pass port-to-port
In a head-on meeting situation, both vessels must alter course to starboard so they pass each other port-side to port-side per COLREGS Rule 14.
Ship Driver Rules of the Road (COLREGS) 1
According to COLREGS, which vessel is the 'stand-on' vessel in a crossing situation?