Question 472 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is B) You must sound three short blasts on the whistle. According to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), when a power-driven vessel is maneuvering astern propulsion, it must sound three short blasts on the whistle to indicate that it is operating with its engines in reverse gear. This whistle signal is required regardless of whether the vessels are meeting or not, in order to communicate the vessel's maneuvering intention to any nearby vessels. The other options are incorrect because: A) is wrong as the whistle signal is required regardless of whether the vessels are meeting; C) is wrong as the COLREGS mandates the three short blasts; and D) is wrong as the one-blast signal is for turning to starboard, not for operating in reverse gear.