Question 653 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is A) wing in ground craft. The definition of "vessel" in the Navigation Rules (both International and Inland) includes wing in ground (WIG) craft. A WIG craft is a type of vehicle that is able to operate in ground effect, flying close to the surface of the water or land. This makes it a vessel that is subject to the Navigation Rules, even though it may not be a traditional waterborne vessel. The other options are incorrect because a drilling unit attached to the Outer Continental Shelf, and a barge permanently affixed to the shore, are not considered vessels under the Navigation Rules. They are considered fixed structures rather than mobile, self-propelled craft.