What action may the stand-on vessel take when the give-way vessel is not acting?

What action may the stand-on vessel take when the give-way vessel is not acting?

• A. Turn off engines
• B. Signal with whistle
• C. Take action to avoid collision
• D. Maintain course and speed

Answer: (C)

When the other vessel isn’t acting to keep clear, the standing-on vessel is permitted to take action to avoid a collision. The duty structure in these situations is that the stand-on vessel should maintain its course and speed as long as there’s no danger, but if a risk of collision exists and the give-way vessel fails to take appropriate action, the stand-on vessel must maneuver to avoid. This is why taking action to avoid collision is the best choice: it reflects the safety priority when the other vessel does not fulfill its obligation. The other options don’t fit the scenario as the usual, safe response would be to continue on course and speed unless there’s danger, and signaling or turning off engines aren’t the required decisive steps to ensure collision avoidance in this context.

When the other vessel isn’t acting to keep clear, the standing-on vessel is permitted to take action to avoid a collision. The duty structure in these situations is that the stand-on vessel should maintain its course and speed as long as there’s no danger, but if a risk of collision exists and the give-way vessel fails to take appropriate action, the stand-on vessel must maneuver to avoid.

This is why taking action to avoid collision is the best choice: it reflects the safety priority when the other vessel does not fulfill its obligation. The other options don’t fit the scenario as the usual, safe response would be to continue on course and speed unless there’s danger, and signaling or turning off engines aren’t the required decisive steps to ensure collision avoidance in this context.