Question 1

A vessel engaged in fishing (trawling, showing green-over-white all-round lights) is making way on a course that would put her in a "crossing situation" with your power-driven vessel, with the fishing vessel crossing from your port side. Under Rule 18, who must keep clear, and does the crossing-from-port detail change this?

Accepted Answer

Your vessel must keep clear regardless of which side the fishing vessel is on, because Rule 18(a) places vessels engaged in fishing above ordinary power-driven vessels in the priority hierarchy — the crossing-from-port detail (which would matter under Rule 15 between two ordinary power-driven vessels) does not change the Rule 18 outcome here This tests whether students conflate Rule 15 (which applies between two power-driven vessels and is sensitive to which side the other vessel is on) with Rule 18 (which establishes a category-based hierarchy regardless of relative bearing) — a vessel engaged in fishing outranks an ordinary power-driven vessel under Rule 18(a) regardless of which side she is approaching from.

Question 2

Rule 5 (Look-out) requires every vessel at all times to maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing, as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions — and this duty applies even when the vessel is at anchor in a busy anchorage.

Accepted Answer

True True. Rule 5 applies 'at all times' and to 'every vessel'. A vessel at anchor in a busy anchorage still needs an effective look-out to detect drifting vessels, dragging anchors, or approaching traffic that may pose a risk of collision or contact.

Question 3

Under Rule 6 (Safe Speed), a vessel fitted with a fully operational radar and ARPA never needs to reduce speed in restricted visibility, because the equipment guarantees early detection of other vessels.

Accepted Answer

False False. Rule 6 explicitly lists radar capability as one factor to consider, but also requires accounting for the state of visibility, traffic density, manoeuvrability, and the limitations of radar (range scale, sea/rain clutter, blind sectors). Even a vessel with excellent radar must proceed at a speed that allows proper and effective action to avoid collision and to be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances.