Rules of the Road

Question 1

Look out

Answer 1

Rule 5
Every vessel, shall at all times, maintain a proper lookout by sight, and hearing as well as by available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions, so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision

Question 2

Safe speed

Answer 2

Rule 6
every vessel, shall at all times, proceed at a safe speed, so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision, and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions
1 visibility
2 traffic density
3 maneuverability
4 background light at night
5 state of wind, sea, current, proximity of navigational hazards
6 vessel draft

Question 3

Risk of collision

Answer 3

Rule 7
every vessel shall use all available, means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exists. If there is any doubt, such risk shall be deemed to exist. proper use shall be made of radar equipment if fitted and operational, including long range scanning to obtain early warning of risk of collision and radar plotting or equivalent, systematic observation of detected objects. assumptions shall not be made on the basis of scanty information, especially scanty radar information in determining if risk of collision exist, the following considerations shall be among those taken into account. Such risks shall be deemed to exist if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel, does not appreciably change. such risk may sometimes exist, even when an appreciable, bearing change is evident, particularly when approaching a very large vessel, or a tow, when approaching a vessel at close range.

Question 4

overtaking

Answer 4

Rule 13
Any vessel overtaking any other, shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken
A vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when coming up with another vessel from a direction more than 22.5° abaft her beam, that is in such a position with reference to the vessel she is overtaking that at night she would be able to see only the stern light of the vessel, but neither of her side lights.
When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether she is overtaking another she shall assume that this is the case and act accordingly
Any subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel, within the meaning of these rules, or relieve her of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel, until she is finally passed and clear

Question 5

Head on situation

Answer 5

Rule 14
when two power driven vessels are meeting on a reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses, so as to involve risk of collision, each shall alter her course to starboard so that each shall pass on the port side of the other
such a situation, Shall be deemed to exist, when a vessel sees the other ahead or nearly ahead, and by night, she could see the mast headlights of the other in a line or nearly in a line, and or both side lights, and by day, she observes the corresponding aspect of the other vessel
when a vessel is in any doubt, as to whether such a situation exists, she shall assume that it does exist and act accordingly

Question 6

Crossing situation

Answer 6

Rule 15
when two power driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her Starboard side, shall keep out of the way, and shall if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel

Question 7

Action by give way vessel

Answer 7

Rule 16
every vessel, which is directed to keep out of the way of another vessel shall so far as possible, take early and substantial action to keep well clear

Question 8

Action by stand on vessel

Answer 8

Rule 17
where one of two vessels is to keep out of the way the other shall keep her course and speed
The latter vessel may, however, take action to avoid collision by her maneuver alone, as soon as it becomes apparent to her that the vessel required to keep out of the way, is not taking appropriate action
When from any cause the vessel required to keep her course and speed, finds herself so close that collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give way vessel alone, she shall take such action as will best aid to avoid collision
A power driven vessel, which takes action in a crossing situation shall if the circumstances of the case admit, not alter course to port, for a vessel, on her port side, this rule does not relieve the give way vessel of her obligation to keep out of the way

Question 9

Lights and Shapes

Answer 9

Masthead light: 225 degrees, 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on each side
Sternlight: 135 degrees
towing light: 135 degree yellow light
all round light: 360 degrees
flashing light: 120+ flashes per minute
special flashing light: yellow light flashing light at 50-70 flashes per minute

Question 10

Sailing

Answer 10

Red over green
upside down triangle

Question 11

fishing

Answer 11

red over white
hourglass

Question 12

trawling

Answer 12

green over white
hourglass

Question 13

Not under command

Answer 13

red over red
2 black balls

Question 14

RAM

Answer 14

red over white over red
ball diamond ball

Question 15

CBD

Answer 15

3 red lights
cylinder

Question 16

Pilot

Answer 16

white over red
1 black ball

Question 17

anchored

Answer 17

all round white light
black ball
100 ft or greater: illuminate decks

Question 18

aground

Answer 18

red over red
3 black balls

Question 19

Short blast

Answer 19

1 second

Question 20

Prolonged blast

Answer 20

4-6 seconds

Question 21

Sound signal for vessels less than 12 meters

Answer 21

No sound signal

Question 22

Sound signal for vessel greater than 12 meters but less than 100 meters

Answer 22

whistle and bell

Question 23

sound signal for vessel greater than 100 meters

Answer 23

whistle, bell, gong

Question 24

Maneuvering and warning signals

Answer 24

One short blast: i am altering my course to starboard
two short blasts: i am altering my course to port
three short blasts: astern propulsion
(same with flashing white light)

Question 25

Danger/doubt sound signal

Answer 25

5 short blasts

Question 26

2 prolonged i short blast

Answer 26

i intend to overtake you on your stbd side

Question 27

2 prolonged 2 short blasts

Answer 27

i intend to overtake you on your port side

Question 28

vessel agreeing to be overtaken

Answer 28

one prolonged, one short, one prolonged, one short

Question 29

vessel nearing a bend in a channel

Answer 29

one prolonged (answered with one prolonged)

Question 30

when leaving a dock or berth

Answer 30

one prolonged blast

Question 31

sound signal for vessel making way in restricted visibility

Answer 31

1 prolonged blast every 2 mins

Question 32

Sound signal for vessel underway not making way in restricted visibility

Answer 32

2 prolonged blasts every 2 mins

Question 33

sound signal for vessel NUC, RAM, CBD, sailing, engaged in fishing, and engaged in towing in restricted visibility

Answer 33

one prolonged, 2 short blasts every 2 minutes

Question 34

(last) vessel being towed if manned sound signal

Answer 34

1 prolonged, 3 short blasts every 2 mins

Question 35

vessel at anchor sound signal

Answer 35

rapid ringing of bell for 5 seconds every minute

Question 36

vessel at anchor 100 meters or more sound signal

Answer 36

bell forward, rapid ringing of bell aft, gong aft
vessel may sound one short, one prolonged, one short

Question 37

vessel aground sound signal

Answer 37

3 separate stokes of the bell followed by rapid ringing of the bell

Question 38

pilot vessel sound signal

Answer 38

4 short blasts