Question 312 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is B) The vessel downbound with a following current. This is correct because the Inland Navigation Rules, Rule 9(a)(ii) states that when two power-driven vessels are meeting on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or other specified waters where there is a current, the vessel that is downbound with the current shall initiate the passing signal. This is to account for the additional speed and momentum of the vessel going with the current, which requires the vessel to signal first to ensure a safe passing maneuver. The other options are incorrect because A) either vessel should not initiate the signal, C) the towing vessel's status does not determine who goes first, and D) the vessel going upstream against the current is not required to initiate the passing signal under these circumstances.