Question 458 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is A) Need not sound any whistle signals. According to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), when a vessel is overtaking another vessel, the overtaking vessel (Vessel A) shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken (Vessel B). Since Vessel A is overtaking Vessel B and will pass without changing course, Vessel A is not required to sound any whistle signals. The overtaking situation is clearly established, and no additional communication via whistle signals is necessary. The other answer choices are incorrect because: B) sounding one long blast is used to indicate a course alteration, C) the danger signal (five or more short blasts) is used to indicate doubt about the actions of another vessel, and D) two short blasts indicate the intent to overtake on the starboard side, which is not the case here.