Question 1

In fog, hearing one prolonged blast on a ship's whistle every two minutes from somewhere out on the water is something a lookout should treat as routine background noise, not worth a report unless it gets noticeably louder.

Accepted Answer

False False. One prolonged blast every two minutes is the fog signal for a power-driven vessel underway and making way (Rule 35(a)) — it means there is another vessel out there that you cannot see. Every fog signal heard should be reported immediately with the approximate bearing it came from, so the OOW can cross-check it against the radar picture. Treating fog signals as background noise is exactly the failure mode Rule 5's "by hearing as well as by sight" wording exists to prevent.

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.