Question 138 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is D) You cannot impede the safe passage of the tankship. This is correct because under both the International and Inland Navigation Rules, when two power-driven vessels are meeting in a narrow channel, the vessel under power that is the smaller or less maneuverable vessel (in this case, the small motorboat) has the obligation to keep out of the way of the larger, less maneuverable vessel (the tankship). The motorboat must not impede the safe passage of the tankship. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not fully capture the obligation of the motorboat to avoid impeding the tankship, which is the most important consideration in this scenario.