USCG Navigation Rules and Regulations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A vessel is considered to be 'not under command' when she is?
- Anchored in a fairway
- Unable to maneuver as required by the rules due to exceptional circumstances (Correct answer)
- Towing another vessel
- Operating in restricted visibility
Correct answer: Unable to maneuver as required by the rules due to exceptional circumstances
COLREGS Rule 3 defines a vessel not under command as one that through exceptional circumstances is unable to maneuver as required and cannot keep out of the way of another vessel.
Question 2: What lights must a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver display?
- Two red lights in a vertical line
- Three red lights in a vertical line
- Two red lights over one white light
- Red, white, red lights in a vertical line (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Red, white, red lights in a vertical line
COLREGS Rule 27 requires a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver to show three all-round lights — red over white over red — in a vertical line.
Question 3: Under the Navigation Rules, a 'give-way vessel' is required to?
- Sound five short blasts
- Take early and substantial action to keep well clear (Correct answer)
- Maintain course and speed
- Increase speed to cross ahead
Correct answer: Take early and substantial action to keep well clear
COLREGS Rule 16 requires the give-way vessel to take early and substantial action to keep well clear of the stand-on vessel.
Question 4: What does a vessel display two cones apex-to-apex to indicate?
- Vessel at anchor
- Vessel engaged in fishing (Correct answer)
- Vessel not under command
- Vessel aground
Correct answer: Vessel engaged in fishing
COLREGS Rule 26 requires a vessel engaged in fishing to display two cones with apexes together (diamond shape) when not at anchor.
Question 5: When is a vessel considered to be 'underway' for purposes of the Navigation Rules?
- When the engines are running
- When not at anchor, made fast to shore, or aground (Correct answer)
- When moving through the water
- When cleared from port
Correct answer: When not at anchor, made fast to shore, or aground
COLREGS Rule 3 defines underway as not at anchor, made fast to shore, or aground — the vessel need not be moving.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS)?
- To allocate fishing zones
- To organize vessel traffic flow and reduce collision risk (Correct answer)
- To designate anchorage areas
- To mark submerged hazards
Correct answer: To organize vessel traffic flow and reduce collision risk
Traffic Separation Schemes, established under COLREGS Rule 10, organize opposing traffic flow into separate lanes to reduce the risk of collision.
USCG Navigation Rules and Regulations 2
A vessel is considered to be 'not under command' when she is?