Question 273 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is C) Vessel "B" because it is sailing. According to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), a sailing vessel is the stand-on vessel when it is in a crossing situation with a power-driven vessel. This is because sailing vessels have less ability to maneuver quickly compared to power-driven vessels. Therefore, in the given scenario, vessel "B", the sailing vessel, is the stand-on vessel and must maintain its course and speed, while vessel "A", the power-driven vessel, must take early and substantial action to avoid a collision. The other options are incorrect because the relative positions of the vessels (option A) and the fact that vessel "A" is towing (option D) are not the determining factors in this crossing situation. The key factor is that vessel "B" is a sailing vessel, which makes it the stand-on vessel according to the COLREGS.