Question 1011 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is A) Underway, but not making way. According to the Rules of the Road, both the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and the Inland Navigation Rules, a pilot vessel may continue to sound an identity signal (such as the characteristic signal of two prolonged blasts) when it is underway but not making way. This allows other vessels to identify the pilot vessel even when it is not actively engaged in pilotage duties. The other options are incorrect because: B) Not engaged in pilotage duty is not a valid condition for sounding the identity signal, C) Being towed would require the pilot vessel to sound different signals, and D) Aground would mean the vessel is not underway and therefore cannot sound the identity signal.