Question 281 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is B) You must keep out of the way of the other vessel. The reason is that the description of the lights (three lights in a vertical line, with the upper and lower lights red and the middle light white) indicates that the other vessel is a vessel at anchor, as per the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS). According to the COLREGS, a vessel at anchor must display these specific lights, and under Rule 30, a vessel underway (such as your fishing vessel) must keep out of the way of a vessel at anchor. The other options are incorrect because A) the rule of special circumstances does not apply in this scenario, C) the other vessel is at anchor and not responsible for keeping out of your way, and D) the other vessel is responsible for displaying the proper lights, not for keeping out of your way.